Ginebra bested San Miguel in Game 6 of the penultimate round for the right to face reigning champ TNT anew in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup finals.
RJ Abarrientos could only attribute his first PBA finals with Ginebra to one man: Justin Brownlee.
Abarrientos heaped praise on the beloved naturalized Filipino in the aftermath of the Gin Kings 102-99 Game 6 finals-clinching win over San Miguel in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
“Justin Brownlee. 'Yun lang. Wala akong masabi,” Abarrientos told reporters after the match on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“Kasi hindi lang siya sa offense. Nagiging madali 'yung team namin because of him, sa mga unselfish plays niya. Hindi siya nanghihingi ng bola. Off ball, okey siya; on ball, okey siya.”
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Brownlee finished with another all-around outing of 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks.
The reinforcement's best moment came with under two minutes remaining on the clock after he nailed the go-ahead stepback triple against Beermen behemoth June Mar Fajardo on top of the key that proved to be the game-winner.
Abarrientos himself deserved credit for the triumph that set up Ginebra's finals rematch with defending champion TNT.
The nephew of PBA legend Johnny Abarrientos fired 16 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal before Brownlee conjured his magic in the endgame.
Justin Brownlee continues to whip up his magic for Ginebra. | Photo (c) PBA
“Like I said, siguro, ginagawa ko lang ang rookie duties ko kasi 'yun 'yung kulang namin sa bench, eh,” Abarrientos said.
“Coming from the bench, 'yung energy type of player. Siguro tinutuluy-tuloy ko lang 'yung tiwalang ibinibigay sa'kin ng coaches. Hindi ko sinisira ang tiwala nila sa'kin. 'Yung minutes na ibinibigay nila sa'kin, sinusuklian ko ng magandang effort.”
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Abarrientos knows that Brownlee, as stellar as he may be, needs all the helping hands in the best-of-seven finale which begins Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
“Para sa'min, kailangan lang namin tulungan siya… Hindi naman laging JB, 50 points, eh,” said Abarrientos.