Brownlee still not satisfied despite Ginebra's Game 2 win: 'We've just got to stay hungry'

Justin Brownlee walked his way to the foul line, took a deep breath then calmly nailed his second pressure-packed free throw to the delight of the Ginebra faithful at the Mall of Asia Arena.

 Those shots capped what had been a spectacular evening for the beloved Gin Kings import in a pulsating 71-70 victory over TNT in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday, March 16.

[RELATED STORY: Ginebra finds groove in Game 2 against TNT, evens PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals series]

 Suffering from a bad case of cold, Brownlee still waxed hot with 35 points he spiked with 11 assists, a steal and two blocks.

He went 1-of-6 from deep, though.

 Despite Ginebra's leveling of the best-of-seven series, Brownlee said he is not yet satisfied.

 “I mean, we definitely feel good about winning tonight and tying the series, but it's still no satisfaction right now. I think we just got to stay hungry, especially with the past history,” Brownlee said.

Justin Brownlee receives cheers from the Ginebra Gin Kings faithful in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports

 Brownlee is also shrugging off any physical discomfort he is feeling at the moment.

 “We know how good this team (TNT) is, and they've beaten us before. So fatigue is just something I'm trying not to worry about. And if I'm tired, I've just got to push through it just like everybody else on the team," he said.

 "I think at this point, when you reach the finals, everybody gets a little fatigued and maybe has some aches and pains. But you can't really think about those things. You just got to push through it.”

[RELATED STORY: Justin Brownlee hopes to flip the script on RHJ in latest Ginebra-TNT PBA Finals clash]

 Scottie Thompson nearly had a triple-double in the lowest-scoring game in the PBA Finals since San Miguel’s 74-66 win also against the Tropang Giga in the Fiesta Conference Finals opener in 2005.

 Thompson, a former Most Valuable Player, submitted 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and a block.

 Before Brownlee’s heroics at endgame, TNT threatened as it went on a 12-3 tear to go ahead for the first time in the match, 67-68, with 3:58 left to play.

 The Tropang Giga held on to their precarious lead, 67-70, on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s free throws, but Brownlee retaliated with a Jordanesque reverse against him before canning the eventual game-winning freebies.

[RELATED STORY: Cone says PBA fans lucky to witness Brownlee-RHJ rivalry: 'Just two special players']

 Not one to raise the white flag, TNT was determined to turn it around in the last 7.3 seconds.

 RHJ tried to do it for the Tropang Giga, but Stephen Holt forced him to take a tough shot that hit nothing but the backboard.

 “Tonight, it was definitely our defense. I've got to give a lot of credit to Stephen and Jamie (Malonzo). They did an incredible job. But also our team defense, I think it was really good. Trying to stay home on their shooters, not letting them get too many open shots, especially in transition,” said Brownlee.

 “I think it was just a great team effort all-around. I've got to give a lot of credit to Jamie (Malonzo) and Stephen, they played incredible defense on RHJ.”

 Hollis-Jefferson finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks for the Tropang Giga.

 Rey Nambatac had 13 markers, while RR Pogoy shot two triples for 11.

 The Scores:

 GINEBRA 71 – Brownlee 35, Thompson 16, J.Aguilar 8, Holt 7, Rosario 2, Ahanmisi 2, Malonzo 0, Cu 0.

 TNT 70 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 14, Pogoy 11, Erram 6, Oftana 5, Khobuntin 4, Williams 2, Razon 2, Aurin 1, Heruela 0.

 Quarterscores: 21-15, 32-19, 54-45, 71-70.