by Jonas Terrado
Justin Brownlee was still reflecting on his career-high 50-point performance in Sunday’s 127-123 overtime win over Columbian when he was told of the tall order Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will face in the first phase of the playoffs.
“It’s not good news,” Brownlee said while laughing when informed that Ginebra will face either San Miguel Beer or Magnolia in a best-of-three quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup which begins this weekend.
Ginebra, which finished the elims at 7-4, was already assured of the No. 4 seed prior to tipoff after Blackwater’s 112-104 win over Alaska in Sunday’s opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
That left the Kings to face the reality of having their feet wet with the matchup against their two equally-formidable sister teams which share similar 5-5 records going into the final elimination round playdate on Wednesday.
Magnolia will get the No. 5 seed with a win over solo leader TNT KaTropa or a San Miguel defeat to Meralco at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
SMB, on the other hand, clinches fifth spot provided it beats Meralco coupled with a Magnolia loss to TNT.
“We usually face a slightly-lighter opponent in the quarterfinals, but at this point it really doesn’t matter who we play in the playoffs,” Brownlee said. “We have to come out with an A-plus performance and give it our all if we want to win.”
Ginebra beat both teams in the elims, giving them the edge ahead of the playoff duel with either side.
NEW IMPORT FOR ELITE
Blackwater will bring back Greg Smith as import for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals with Staphon Blair nursing a knee injury.
