Barangay Ginebra San Miguel moved on the doorstep of a third finals appearance in four conferences after beating NLEX, 104-94, Friday, March 25 for a commanding 2-0 lead in their PBA Governors’ Cup semis series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Gin Kings bucked the absence of Japeth Aguilar due to a calf injury as almost everyone coach Tim Cone inserted stepped up to pull off a repeat over the Road Warriors.
Import Justin Brownlee anchored the latest triumph with 32 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals as Ginebra needs just to win only once to earn a return trip to the finals and a chance to repeat as champions of the season-ending conference.
Game 3 is set at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, still at the busy Pasay City venue.
Scottie Thompson had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Christian Standhardinger put up 17 points and 11 rebounds, LA Tenorio scored 15 points with seven assists and John Pinto was again a spark off the bench with 10 points and five assists.
Sophomore Arvin Tolentino and veteran Joe Devance provided quality minutes, combining for 13 points with the latter contributing on both ends.
Ginebra’s defense also frustrated NLEX import Cam Clark, who was held to 15 points and five rebounds before fouling out.
Rookie guard Matt Nieto scored 19 points but the Road Warriors now face a must-win situation.
Ginebra was again trailing in the second quarter, with NLEX holding a pair of 11-point leads, the last on a triple by Kenneth Ighalo for 42-31.
But Pinto scored all of his points in that period to spark the rally, and the Gin Kings eventually took a 55-49 lead at the break and never looked back.
There was no letdown in the third as Brownlee and Thompson accounted for 15 of Ginebra’s 27 points while limiting NLEX to a 35-percent shooting to hike its lead during the period that saw the crowd favorite lead 78-60.
NLEX could only close in at nine points twice in the fourth behind Nieto, but Ginebra delivered a finishing kick to come away with the victory.
The scores:
GINEBRA 104 — Brownlee 32, Thompson 17, Standhardinger 17, Tenorio 15, Pinto 10, Devance 7, Tolentino 6, Caperal 0, Ayaay 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.