Ginebra banked on Justin Brownlee's hot hands from triple and quadruple territory to secure the Game 1 win over San Miguel in the PBA Governors' Cup.
Brgy. Ginebra eyes to ride on its series-opening victory as it takes on San Miguel anew in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinals on Friday, Oct. 11.
Match unfurls at 7:30 p.m. following the 5 p.m. joust between TNT and Rain or Shine.
The Gin Kings pulled away from a close battle in the first half and went on to deliver a dominant performance in Game 1, 122-105, with Justin Brownlee taking centerstage in the pivotal third quarter.
Brownlee lit up the scoreboard with five four-pointers, the most by any player in a single game so far. His deep-range success was especially crucial in the third period, where he dropped three quadruples in a 20-point explosion. He finished with 33 points he topped with eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Reflecting on his performance, Brownlee noted the Beermen's usual strong game plan but noted how they left him open from deep, particularly from the four-point line. Ginebra capitalized on this defensive lapse, with Brownlee being the only player to score from the new four-point arc.
The Gin Kings' long-range shooting was a key factor in their Game 1 victory, as they knocked down 12 treys in addition to Brownlee’s four-pointers.
The naturalized Filipino likewise clicked from three-point range as he, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Nard Pinto each produced three from there. Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi contributed two and one triple, respectively.
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Holt, who played a stellar supporting role to Brownlee, finished with 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting, while also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists.
Despite the team’s success from deep, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone remains cautious about relying too heavily on the four-point line. Cone expressed his concerns, saying "there is so much more in the game" than turning it into a contest of three- or four-point shooting.
For San Miguel, adjustments will be critical heading into Game 2. Its defense will need to tighten up, especially on the perimeter, where it allowed the Gin Kings to consistently find open looks.
[Editor's note: This article was generated by AI and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]