Gin Kings oust Beermen, arrange Finals clash with Tropang Giga
Justin Brownlee capped off the efforts of Maverick Ahanmisi as Barangay Ginebra narrowly defeated San Miguel, 102-99, to secure a finals rematch with TNT in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 20.
After a quiet performance through the first three quarters, Brownlee erupted in the final frame, tallying nine of his 21 points—most notably a crucial three-pointer in the closing minutes, extending the Kings’ lead to 102-98 and providing a vital cushion.
San Miguel had multiple opportunities to pull ahead following a split from the foul line by June Mar Fajardo, which narrowed the gap to just three points. However, both EJ Anosike and Jericho Cruz faltered on their attempts to tie the game, with their four-point shots missing the mark as time ran out.
In addition to his scoring, Brownlee showcased an all-around game with seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Ahanmisi was instrumental as well, pouring in 25 points to keep Ginebra competitive throughout the contest’s initial frames.
Japeth Aguilar was another key contributor, scoring 20 points on an impressive 10-of-11 shooting, while RJ Abarrientos added 16 points off the bench. Scottie Thompson made his presence felt all over the court, finishing with 10 points and an impressive 14 rebounds as Ginebra eliminated San Miguel in six games.
With this victory, the Kings are set to face the defending champions, the Tropang Giga—the very team that bested them in the Finals during the last iteration of the Governors’ Cup in Season 47.
Game 1 of the Finals is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
EJ Anosike did everything within his power to propel SMB to a Game 7, registering 30 points and nine rebounds, but ultimately, it wasn’t sufficient.
June Mar Fajardo complemented his performance with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter and CJ Perez contributed 16 and 13, respectively, in a valiant but losing effort.
The scores:
Brgy. Ginebra 102 – Ahanmisi 25, Brownlee 21, J. Aguilar 20, Abarrientos 16, Thompson 10, Cu 7, Holt 3, Mariano 0, Adamos 0.
San Miguel 99 – Anosike 30, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 16, Perez 13, Cruz 8, Trollano 8, Manuel 2, Romeo 0, Ross 0.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 46-49, 76-75, 102-99.