Brgy. Ginebra def Bay Area, 101-91 [Finals Game 5 | PBA S47 Comm’s Cup | Jan. 8, 2023]
Brgy. Ginebra got its redemption from its Game 4 letdown and moved on the cusp of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown with a 101-91 win over the crippled but fierce-fighting Bay Area team before a 21,823-strong crowd at the MOA Arena Sunday.
Justin Brownlee dished out the Justin Brownlee things and Stanley Pringle came out big time to step in for the injury-hit LA Tenorio as the Kings struck at the Dragons again and took the pivotal 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven title playoff.
The two teams take a two-day breather before clashing again Wednesday in the same Pasay City playing venue, with the Kings taking their first of two cracks at wrapping up the coveted crown.
Learning their lesson from their 94-86 downfall in Game 4, Brownlee said they would rather stay focused on the job at hand whatever and whoever the Dragons put up in Game 6.
Already without Andrew Nicholson since Game 4, the Dragons became all the more short handed minus Glen Yang in Game 5.
“We’re surprised Glen would not play, and that was a bonus for us, knowing Nicholson is out. Glen is a good point guard,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, but not to take the credit away from his guys.
“Last time, we didn’t have a direction on who to defend as we’re prepared for Nicholson. Today was different as we had a scheme for Kobey Lam and we had a scheme for big Liu,” Cone pointed out.