Brownlee hits winner as Ginebra escapes TNT in Game 1

MANILA, Philippines, June 4 ------ Barangay Ginebra drew first blood in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after escaping TNT, 102-100, on a game-winner from Justin Brownlee on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brownlee hit the go-ahead basket with less than a second remaining, leaving the Tropang 5G with little time to respond in the series opener. “It’s just a matter of trying to get the ball into Justin’s hands,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “He went and did his thing. It’s not the first time he’s done that in his career. It was the same play where he made ‘The Shot’ when we beat Meralco for our 2016 championship.”

TNT tried to get a shot off on the ensuing possession with 0.6 seconds on the clock, but Calvin Oftana was unable to do so with Brownlee hounding him on defense.

Brownlee finished with 23 points and eight assists in the Gin Kings’ victory. But Ginebra also got clutch contributions from RJ Abarrientos, who drained two four-pointers in the final two minutes. He also led the Gin Kings with 24 points and seven assists.

Ginebra, which led by as many as 18 points, had to fend off a furious TNT comeback after controlling most of the game. The Gin Kings were still up by nine, 88-79, before the Tropang 5G unloaded a 12-0 run capped by a Rey Nambatac triple with 5:28 left to take a 91-88 lead. Ginebra responded with a 12-6 counterattack to regain control, 100-97, highlighted by Abarrientos’ second four-pointer with 20 seconds remaining.

Roger Pogoy then tied the game at 100-all to give TNT a chance, but it only set the stage for another clutch moment from Ginebra’s longtime import. Troy Rosario and Scottie Thompson added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings. Chris McCullough turned in a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds in the TNT defeat. Pogoy had 22, Nambatac scored 19 and the duo of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Calvin Oftana registered 12 points each.

The scores:

Barangay Ginebra 102 – Abarrientos 24, Brownlee 23, Rosario 16, Thompson 15, Cu 9, J. Aguilar 7, Gray 6, Torres 2, Holt 0, Pinto 0, Go 0.

TNT 100 – McCullough 25, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 19, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Oftana 12, Heading 5, Khobuntin 5, Castro 0, Aurin 0, Williams 0, Quitevis 0.

Quarters: 30-25; 57-44; 79-72; 102-100.

Source: sports.inquirer.net