Barangay Ginebra San Miguel did just enough to outlast Alaska, 80-77, Sunday, Dec. 12 and start its title defense on a winning note in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Resident import Justin Brownlee made key plays in his return while Stanley Pringle shook off his shooting struggles late as the Gin Kings won their opening assignment while denying the Aces a 3-0 start in the conference.
The victory came after Ginebra spent most of the game trying to catch up against an Alaska team that started the season-ending tournament with huge confidence after two consecutive wins.
“We were playing uphill the whole game. We were playing from behind pretty much the whole game. It never got to a big lead but we felt like we were playing from behind the whole game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“So, we were able to tie the game and that gave us a little bit of confidence that we can maybe win this game. And then Stanley hit his big shot as well so that was key.”
Brownlee scored 28 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in his first appearance since leading Ginebra to the Governors’ Cup crown in 2019.
His basket tied the score at 73-all with 1:08 left before his steal set up a turnaround jumper by Pringle that put the Gin Kings in front, 75-73, 40.8 seconds to go.
Pringle’s basket was actually his second straight, the previous one slicing Alaska’s 73-69 lead in half, after going 1-of-8 from the field. He finished with seven points.
The Gin Kings also got some big breaks in the end, with Aces import Olu Ashaolu missed two foul shots on the next play.
Alaska also blew a chance to set up a better chance at tying the score after LA Tenorio failed to convert two freebies and Ginebra ahead 78-75 when it opted to push ahead instead of calling a timeout.
And much to the chagrin of Aces coach Jeffrey Cariaso, Maverick Ahanmisi’s pass for Robbie Herndon resulted in the latter stepping out the bounds, giving the ball back to Ginebra in the dying seconds.
Ashaolu had 19 points and 18 rebounds despite having to deal all evening with the physicality of Christian Standhardinger, but those numbers were not enough to keep the Aces unbeaten.
The scores:
GINEBRA 80 — Brownlee 28, Aguilar 11, Thompson 9, Standhardinger 8, Pringle 7, Tenorio 6, Tolentino 5, Onwubere 2, Salado 2, Caperal 2.
ALASKA 77 — Ashaolu 19, Herndon 12, Ahanmisi 10, Teng 10, Taha 9, Brondial 4, Tratter 3, Adamos 3, Racal 3, Digregorio 2, Tolomia 2, Stockton 0.
Quarters: 14-18, 34-38, 56-59, 80-77.