Ginebra coach Tim Cone says that his squad's Game 5 victory against San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinals "wasn't all Justin."
Justin Brownlee need not be at his best as Ginebra took on San Miguel in Game 5 of their PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinals on Friday, Oct. 18.
After just dropping 18 markers following his 49-point explosion, Brownlee saw his teammates step up and the Gin Kings reclaimed the lead in the best-of-seven showdown via a dominant 121-92 win over the Beermen.
“It wasn’t all Justin tonight. It was a lot of contribution,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone after the match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Among those who took care of the cudgels for the Gin Kings was rookie RJ Abarrientos, who proved steady from start to finish on his way to a career-high 28 points.
He also had three rebounds and two assists for Ginebra, which moved to the threshold of a possible finals appearance with its 3-2 mark.
Scottie Thompson scored 18 of his 22 points in the opening period to keep the Gin Kings afloat after the Beermen went off, 28-18. On top of his scoring output, Thompson also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists and swiped two steals.
Brownlee accounted for Ginebra's third-best offensive output on a 5-for-11 clip as everyone rose to the occasion. He also had nine rebounds and seven assists.
The other 10 players Cone fielded in scored at least a point, with Japeth Aguilar putting up 15 points, two rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block while also trying to make life tough for eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, who still had 17 points and 18 rebounds.
Maverick Ahanmisi added 13 markers for the Gin Kings, who led 110-81 after Nards Pinto’s booming trey in the 6:40 mark of the fourth period.
San Miguel leaned on EJ Anosike, who had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists even as CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 16 points each but there was just nothing the Beermen could do against Ginebra’s onslaught.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 121 – Abarrientos 28, Thompson 22, Brownlee 18, J.Aguilar 15, Ahanmisi 13, Holt 9, Cu 4, Pinto 3, Adamos 2, Devance 2, Pessumal 2, R.Aguilar 2, Mariano 1.
SAN MIGUEL 92 – Anosike 21, Fajardo 17, Perez 16, Lassiter 16, Trollano 7, Ross 4, Enciso 4, Cruz 3, Brondial 2, Romeo 2, Nava 0, Tautuaa 0, Rosales 0.
Quarterscores: 34-33, 63-50, 92-79, 121-92