Gray, Brownlee tow Ginebra late to snap NLEX's four-game streak

Rookie Jeremiah Gray, with the help of import Justin Brownlee, towed Barangay Ginebra past the NLEX Road Warriors, 114-111, with a late rally in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing by seven with less than two minutes left in the game, Gray hit two consecutive triples to put Ginebra within one, 108-107, at the 1:10 mark.

Freebies by Brownlee off a Wayne Selden foul gave Ginebra the lead anew, before Kevin Alas completed a three-point play and gave NLEX the lead, 111-109, with 37 seconds left.

Gray came in clutch as he drilled a triple at the 00:19 mark to push Ginebra to 112-111, with freebies from Brownlee off a Kris Rosales foul sealing the deal for the defending champs.

Ginebra's late rally came after NLEX led by as much as 12, 100-88, early in the final frame.

Brownlee, who was recently naturalized as a Filipino, posted monster numbers anew with 44 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, while Gray went hot from beyond the arc as he drilled five of seven triples to list 19 points, along with four rebounds, and three assists.

Ginebra's second win put a dent in NLEX's spotless record after four games and spoiled the debut of Selden, who registered 43 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Alas, who was almost the hero for NLEX, tallied 22 points, six boards, and three assists.

The defending champions will face NorthPort Batang Pier on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena, while NLEX will try to bounce back when they go against the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots on February 16 at the Big Dome.

The scores:

Ginebra 114 – Brownlee 44, Gray 19, Thompson 12, Pringle 10, Malonzo 9, J. Aguilar 9, Pinto 8, Tenorio 3, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0, Mariano 0.

NLEX 111 – Selden Jr. 43, Alas 22, Ganuelas-Rosser 19, Rosales 10, Trollano 6, Semerad 6, Gabo 3, Anthony 2, Pascual 0, Doliguez 0.

Quarters: 28-25, 59-55, 84-92, 114-111.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News