Ginebra rallies to draw 1st blood in semis vs. SMB

Justin Brownlee and the Gin Kings came clawing back in the second half. GMA News

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel rallied back from a double-digit deficit in the first half to fashion out a rousing 115-108 victory over San Miguel Beer in the opening game of their PBA Governors' Cup semifinals series on Monday.

Import Justin Brownlee scored 39 points while Japeth Aguilar added 22 for the Gin Kings, who trailed by 11 points, 57-46, at the half against the defending champion Beermen.

"To tell you the truth, in the first half it looked like we were totally overmatched," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone after the game. "That we don't belong in the same court."

Sol Mercado scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half for Ginebra, which erased that deficit in the third quarter to take a 79-76 lead heading into the final period.

"Our guys raised their game," said Cone, who also drew 12 and 11 points, respectively from Joe Devance and Scottie Thompson. "It was great because I certainly didn't have the confidence in the first half.

Starters carried the fight for San Miguel, scoring all but five points for the Beermen all game. Import Elijah Millsap led the charge with 29 points, while June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot added 25 and 20, respectively. Arwind Santos chipped in 15 points while Lassiter scored 14.

"Their first five is solid," said Cone.

Despite the big turnaround, Cone cautioned that the best-of-five affair is far from over.

"It obviously didn't win the series. Game Two is a big deal," said Cone. —JST, GMA News