Bronwlee fuels Barangay Ginebra in holding off gritty Terrafirma for bounce back win

Justin Brownlee made sure his shots were on point this time around, powering Barangay Ginebra to a 114-98 win over Terrafirma to bounce back from a previous loss in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The resident import fired six three-pointers to finish with a game-high 49 points to go with 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals as the Gin Kings recovered from a 93-90 loss to Eastern last Saturday and improved to 3-1.

In that loss, Brownlee couldn't make his shots from beyond the arc after going with an unusual 0-of-6 percentage from the three-point area. 

"Let me clarify, I don't think there's anything like a good loss but if there's a good loss, we probably had one against Eastern. But I'm not a big fan of good losses," Ginebra coach Tim Cone said. 

"But tonight, it was a good win for us because we were missing two starters, two really important starters in Japeth and Stephen." 

Ginebra had full control of the game until Terrafirma staged a fightback in the fourth, turning to veteran big man Vic Manuel as the Dyip threatened a comeback. 

Once staring at a 22-point lead when Scottie Thompson sent Ginebra to a 69-47 cushion late in the third, Terrafirma answered with a 20-6 run in the fourth to close the gap by just five points, 99-94, thanks to the leadership of Manuel and some key baskets from rookie Paolo Hernandez and import Brandon Walton-Edwards. 

When Brownlee returned to the court after a much-needed breather, Ginebra regained its footing with the reinforcement scoring four straight free throws and Thompson completing a three-point play for a 106-94 advantage in the final 3:11. 

Brownlee then converted an easy layup before his final triple of the game sealed it for the Gin Kings. 

RJ Abarrientos provided the local support with his 18-point outing together with six assists, two steals, and two rebounds while Troy Rosario tallied 17 markers, five boards, two dimes, one steal, and one block to make up for the absence of Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt. 

Terrafirma, who was missing the services of Mark Nonoy due to fever, leaned on Edwards who poured in 27 points and 12 rebounds in the loss as Manuel and Stanley Pringle posted 19 and 11 markers each. 

Scores:

Ginebra 114 – Brownlee 49, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Thompson 8, Adamos 7, Pessumal 6, Mariano 5, Ahanmisi 4, Cu 0, Tenorio 0, Pinto 0.

Terrafirma 98 – Edwards 27, Manuel 19, Pringle 11, Hernandez 10, Ferrer 9, Paraiso 8, Ramos 5, Melecio 5, Sangalang 2, Catapusan 2, Olivario 0, Hanapi 0.

Quarters: 26-20, 52-43, 85-69, 114-98.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News