Barangay Ginebra whips NLEX, takes 2-0 semis lead

Barangay Ginebra averted a late-game collapse to stun NLEX, 104-94, and take a commanding 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five semifinal matchup in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Friday.

Resident import Justin Bronwlee paced his side with 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists while Scottie Thompson and Christian Standhardinger each poured in 17 markers as Ginebra moved a win away from the finals.

Thompson added 12 rebounds to his stat line while veteran guard LA Tenorio finished with 15 points and seven dimes as they played through the absence of injured Japeth Aguilar.

Leading by just six at the half, 55-49, the defending champions unleashed a scorching 25-13 run capped off by a pair of free throws from the returning Joe Devance for an 80-62 cushion.

The Road Warriors still made some baskets towards the end of the third but Ginebra held on to its lead, 82-66.

That advantage, though, got trimmed as NLEX mounted a comeback late in the fourth with big man Justin Chua leading a 22-14 blitz that cut Road Warriors' deficit to just a single digit, 88-96.

Back-to-back triples from Thompson and Tenorio put Ginebra up anew, 102-88, as NLEX never got the chance to recover.

The scores:

Ginebra 104 - Brownlee 32, Standhardinger 17, Thompson 17, Tenorio 15, Pinto 10, Devance 7, Tolentino 6, Caperal 0, Chan 0.

NLEX 94 - Nieto 19, Clark 15, Chua 12, Alas 12, Rosales 10, Trollano 10, Quiñahan 8, Semerad 3,  Ighalo 3, Paniamogan 2, Varilla 0.

Quarters: 24-27, 55-49, 82-66, 104-94

—JMB, GMA News