By REYNALD MAGALLON
Justin Brownlee finished what Maverick Ahanmisi had started as Barangay Ginebra squeezed past San Miguel, 102-99, to arrange a finals rematch with TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Brownlee, uncharacteristically silent through the first three quarters, came alive in the final frame scoring nine of his 21 points – none bigger than the booming triple in the waning minutes to give the Kings enough breathing space, 102-98.
San Miguel had several chances to win the game after a June Mar Fajardo split from the foul line cut the lead down to just three, but both EJ Anosike and Jericho Cruz missed on their four-point tries as the clock expired.
Brownlee did it all with seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks while Ahanmisi starred with 25 points as he kept Ginebra within striking distance through the first three frames.
Japeth Aguilar also played big with 20 points on a near-perfect 10-of-11 clip while RJ Abarrientos contributed 16 off the bench. Scottie Thompson was all over the floor with 10 points and 14 rebounds as Ginebra dispatched SMB through six games.
With the win, the Kings face defending champions Tropang Giga – the very same team that defeated them in the Finals the last time the Governors’ Cup was staged back in Season 47.
Game 1 of the Finals is set on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Anosike did everything in his power to help SMB force a Game 7 but his 30 points and nine rebounds were not enough to carry his team. Fajardo also had 22 points and 15 rebounds while Marcio Lassiter and CJ Perez finished with 16 and 13 all in the losing effort.
