Ginebra is back on track in its best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinal duel against San Miguel after prevailing in Game 3 on Sunday, Oct. 13.
In what was expected to be another hot-shooting match, Ginebra decided not to fight fire with fire.
The Gin Kings deferred to their defense to secure a 99-94 bounce-back victory over San Miguel in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals on Sunday, Oct. 13.
That was the first thing Ginebra head coach Tim Cone talked about during the post-game presser at the Dasmarinas City Arena in Cavite.
“We defended so much better tonight. We played playoff defense tonight, and I thought that was the key,” said Cone, whose team had eight blocks and five steals.
The Gin Kings forced the Beermen below their 118-point average in the semifinals after also making things tough for eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo.
Fajardo finished with 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field. He collared 14 rebounds but turned the ball over five times.
Romeo, whose previous 26-point output saved San Miguel from falling to a 0-2 hole, was limited to eight points on a 3-for-10 clip.
Justin Brownlee, in turn, had a field day for Ginebra with his 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Even more impressive was he did not commit a single turnover in over 44 minutes of play.
“We had some uncertain moments in the third quarter when we came out of halftime,” Cone said, referring to a big third period for San Miguel where it even led by 60-67 at one point.
“But thanks to this guy (Brownlee) here, we recovered. Thanks to this guy again, down the stretch, we’re able to win it. Thanks to this guy, thanks to this guy,” he said.
But it was not just Brownlee’s night.
Japeth Aguilar scored 14 of his 22 points in the first 24 minutes of action to help the Gin Kings take a 54-45 lead at halftime.
Aguilar also had eight rebounds, three assists and one block for the Ginebra, which was in control for most of the match save for that sloppy first six minutes in the penultimate quarter.
EJ Anosike led the Beermen’s assault in the third quarter, dropping 14 of his 32 points as San Miguel trailed by just four points, 72-76, heading into the final frame.
In the payoff period, with just 1:42 remaining, Anosike's pull-up jumper allowed San Miguel to threaten at 90-93.
A basket by Stephen Holt and Brownlee after that put Ginebra in control anew, 97-90, with 20.9 ticks remaining.
San Miguel staged one last attempt to turn its fortunes after Marcio Lassiter knocked down a four-pointer against the outstretched arms of Ralph Cu, 97-94.
But that was all the Beermen could do.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 99 – Brownlee 30, J.Aguilar 22, Ahanmisi 15, Holt 11, Abarrientos 8, Thompson 8, Cu 5, Adamos 0, Devance 0.
SAN MIGUEL 94 – Anosike 32, Perez 13, Fajardo 12, Lassiter 12, Cruz 9, Romeo 8, Trollano 3, Ross 3, Tauatuaa 2, Rosales 0.
Quarterscores: 25-20, 54-45, 76-72, 99-94