Game Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
6:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Miguel
(Ginebra leads series 1-0)
Justin Brownlee fired 42 points on a blistering 15-of-17 shooting as Barangay Ginebra clobbered defending champion San Miguel Beer, 127-99, to draw first blood in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee, who added seven rebounds and nine assists in 40 minutes, never missed a beat right from the onset to set the tone for an evening that saw Ginebra leaving San Miguel high and dry and post one of the most lopsided victories in recent finals memory.
Ginebra also got a big lift from Joe Devance with 18 points and veteran Mark Caguioa, whose nine of 11 points in the first half backstopped Brownlee’s Herculean effort.
Most of the 11,000 fans went home with happy faces as Ginebra posted its 11th win in the last 12 games to gain a headstart in the best-of-seven showdown.
The Kings look to make it two in a row over the Beermen tomorrow night, also at the Big Dome.
“We’ll that was a surprise, but it was of those nights that we have it and they didn’t have it,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
San Miguel showed little resemblance of the team that won six championships in the last three years, failing to taste the lead right from the opening tip.
One of the Beermen’s main strengths was non-existent as they only made 7-of-29 from three-point range, with Marcio Lassiter going 1-of-8 and Alex Cabganot making just one in five attempts. (Jonas Terrado)
