The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings rode on a stellar performance from Justin Brownlee in the third quarter to overpower the San Miguel Beermen, 122-105, in Game 1 of their 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
Brownlee, 36, exploded for 20 of his game-high 33 points in the early part of the second half, breaking open a tightly contested match and giving the Gin Kings a comfortable lead that they would not relinquish. His scoring outburst helped Ginebra seize momentum in their best-of-seven series.
“We played a great first half, but we knew we needed to step up even more in the second half,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “We refused to settle and played at a higher level after the break.”
The Gin Kings were ahead by a narrow margin, 63-58, at halftime when Brownlee ignited a crucial scoring run. His back-to-back three-pointers, including a rare four-point play, pushed Ginebra to a commanding 79-65 lead with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
Brownlee’s dominant performance, featuring five makes from beyond the arc, eight rebounds, and several clutch plays, earned him Player of the Game honors. His efforts propelled Ginebra to their fourth straight playoff victory, following their sweep of the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinals.
Ginebra built their largest lead of the game, a 24-point cushion at 102-78, early in the fourth quarter following a layup by Scottie Thompson.
Stephen Holt contributed 30 points, including eight in the final quarter, to ensure Ginebra maintained control. The Gin Kings will aim for a 2-0 series lead when Game 2 tips off this Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 7:30 p.m.
Brownlee continued to shine in the third quarter, nailing two more four-point plays, fueling a 34-point swing that gave Ginebra a comfortable 97-78 lead heading into the final period. Holt then took over in the fourth to cap off Ginebra’s convincing 17-point win.
