Justin Brownlee drops 40 as Brgy. Ginebra gets back at Rain or Shine

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao was preparing for the emergence of the “real” Ginebra as they headed into their much-anticipated second-round rematch.

What he encountered was a powerhouse performance that left no doubt.

The Gin Kings unleashed a relentless rally in the fourth quarter, overwhelming the Elasto Painters with a decisive 124-102 victory, marking their fourth consecutive win in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, September 13.

Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt spearheaded a remarkable second-half surge, propelling Ginebra to a staggering 27-9 run that spanned the final two quarters, effectively distancing themselves from Rain or Shine and creating a three-way tie atop Group B.

With both Ginebra and Ros now boasting identical 5-2 records alongside San Miguel, the battle for supremacy in Group B has become increasingly captivating, especially with the Kings set to face the Beermen on Sunday, September 15.

Brownlee delivered a spectacular performance, racking up 40 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. Holt found his rhythm from beyond the arc, finishing with 18 points, all scored from three-point range in the second half.

Scottie Thompson chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds, while RJ Abarrientos and Maverick Ahanmisi added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

On the other side, Aaron Fuller led the Elasto Painters with 28 points and 11 rebounds, but Guiao’s premonitions proved all too accurate as the ‘real’ Kings returned with vengeance, looking to correct their earlier 73-64 defeat in Candon City.

Despite the setback, the Elasto Painters fought valiantly, matching the Kings in a thrilling back-and-forth during the third quarter, even erasing a 15-point lead. Rain or Shine trailed by just one, 79-80, late in the third, but Ginebra quickly found their rhythm from long range, with Abarrientos and Holt igniting the offense.

From there, it was all Ginebra as they stretched their lead to as much as 27 points in the closing frame.

Jhonard Clarito contributed 16 points, while Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti added 15, including four three-pointers, in a valiant but ultimately losing effort.

The scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 124 – Brownlee 40, J. Aguilar 21, Holt 18, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 14, Ahanmisi 13, Garcia 1, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, Go 0.

Rain or Shine 102 – Fuller 28, Clarito 16, Lemetti 15, Nocum 12, Caracut 8, Santillan 6, Villegas 6, Tiongson 5, Mamuyac 4, Norwood 2, Datu 0.

Quarterscores: 38-30, 58-54, 90-79, 124-102.