Gin Kings back on win column with 16-point rout of Dyip
Justin Brownlee made a resounding comeback from his last outing, scoring a staggering 49 points on Wednesday night, leading Barangay Ginebra to a commanding 114-98 victory over Terrafirma in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
RJ Abarrientos also shone brightly, contributing 18 points to help Ginebra bounce back after suffering a narrow 90-93 defeat to Hong Kong Eastern just days earlier.
Both Brownlee and Abarrientos found their rhythm from beyond the arc, combining to hit 10 three-pointers, propelling the Kings into a tie for third place with Meralco and Rain or Shine at 3-1, while Terrafirma remained stuck at the bottom with a dismal 0-6 record.
As a cohesive unit, Ginebra demonstrated a fierce determination, jumping out to a massive 22-point lead at 69-47 during the third quarter against a struggling Terrafirma squad.
While Brandon Walton Edwards and his teammates made a push as Ginebra eased off the gas in the final period, the Dyip closed the gap to just five points at 94-99, thanks to a three-point play from Vic Manuel. However, the Gin Kings quickly regrouped, with Brownlee spearheading a decisive 12-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Troy Rosario joined the scoring spree with 17 points, while Edwards led the Dyip with a commendable 27 points and 12 rebounds.
Brownlee was exceptional, hitting 6-of-11 from three-point range, while Abarrientos excelled with a near-perfect 4-of-5, helping Ginebra overcome the absence of key players Japeth Aguilar (groin injury) and Stephen Holt (knee).
Ginebra set the tone early, leading 26-20 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 52-43 at halftime.
They continued their hot shooting in the third quarter, establishing a commanding 22-point lead before finishing the period at 85-69.
With this victory, Ginebra regained its winning momentum as they prepare for a road match against Converge in Batangas City on Saturday.
On Christmas Day, the Gin Kings will face off against their rivals, the Magnolia Hotshots, in a highly anticipated showdown.
