Justin Brownlee knocked down key buckets late to lift Barangay Ginebra to a 99-91 win over Meralco in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 2.
Brownlee scored 8 of his game-high 34 points in the final two minutes as the Gin Kings cracked the winning column after a stunning 22-point loss to Rain or Shine in their conference opener.
The Bolts trailed by just 6 points down the stretch but failed to get closer no thanks to some timely buckets from Brownlee, who shot 45% from the field after shooting a poor 7-of-25 clip against the Elasto Painters.
Reigning MVP Scottie Thompson also rebounded from his one-point outing against Rain or Shine and flirted with a triple-double, posting 15 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals.
Stanley Pringle added 16 points in the win, 9 points coming in the second quarter as he connived with Justin Brownlee to give Ginebra a 49-41 halftime lead.
Meralco gained the upper hand midway through the third period off an Alvin Pasaol triple, 61-60, but Thompson tallied 6 points in a 13-4 run for a 73-65 advantage.
Japeth Aguilar had 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks for the Gin Kings, while Jamie Malonzo made his presence felt with 10 points and 6 rebounds in just his second game with his new squad.
Firing blanks in a tough loss to NorthPort, Bolts import Johnny O’Bryant shot better from the field and finished with 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting to go with 16 rebounds, but Meralco just could not get the job done.
According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the loss marked the Bolts’ first 0-2 start in an import conference since the 2014 Governors’ Cup.
Allein Maliksi netted 20 points and Aaron Black put up 14 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals for Meralco, which badly missed the services of injured guard Chris Newsome.
Newsome sat out after suffering a calf injury against the Batang Pier.
The Scores
Barangay Ginebra 99 – Brownlee 34, Pringle 16, Thompson 15, J. Aguilar 10, Malonzo 10, Standhardinger 10, Tenorio 4, Pessumal 0.
Meralco 91 – O’Bryant 31, Maliksi 20, Black 14, Almazan 10, Pasaol 9, Quinto 3, Hodge 2, Banchero 2, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0.
Quarters: 26-22, 49-41, 73-65, 99-91.
