Brownlee is business as usual for Barangay Gonebra. PBA photo
Easy win for Ginebra
IT was business as usual for three-time PBA Best Import awardee Justine Brownlee.
Brownlee finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and three blocked shots as Ginebra defeated defending champion San Miguel Beer, 93-81, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win — the third in a row — enabled the Tim Cone-mentored Gin Kings to climb to solo fourth place with a 5-2 win-loss record in the import-flavored conference.
Brownlee was at his best in the fourth quarter as he scored 10 points, helping the Kings survive several several rallies by the Beermen.
Later, Cone revealed that the 36-year-old Brownlee was really under the weather, but still went out of his way to lead the Kings in their first game of the new year.
“Justin was really under the weather,” said Cone shortly after the post-game presser. “He actually didn’t practice the past couple of days.” Brownlee, on the other hand, said he caught the flu at the most unfortunate time.
“I think a flu-like thing is going around during the holidays. A couple of guys in the team caught it as well,”he said.
“But that’s all that there is, I guess. Hopefully, in the next day or two, it will just pass through.”
Also making his presence felt was Troy Rosario, who tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds in his best game with the Kings.
Ginebra also got 15 points from Stephen Holt, 11 points and eight rebounds from Japeth Aguilar and eight points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists from Scottie Thompson.
Import Jabari Narcisfinished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, and June Mar Fajardo added 12 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks for the Beermen, who suffered their third straight loss and tumbled out of the .500 mark at 3-4.
The Gin Kings are now just one game behind NorthPort Batang Pier for the top spot as they prepare for highly-anticipated Wednesday night showdown at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The scores:
Ginebra (93) – Rosario 22, Brownlee 19, Holt 15, J.Aguilar 11, Thompson 8, Abarrientos 8, Ahanmisi 7, CCu 3, Adamos 0.
San Miguel (81) – Narcis 17, Perez 14, Tiongson 12, Fajardo 12, Cruz 9, Lassiter 6, Cahilig 6, Ross 3, Tautuaa 2, Brondial 0, Enciso 0.
Quarterscores: 16-16, 47-31, 66-50, 93-81.
