Justin Brownlee looked winded and limping late as if there was no gas left on his legs. But somehow, he mustered enough strength to still make the winning plays in the end.

The Ginebra resident import drilled a booming trey and then rose for two crucial blocks down the stretch as the Kings kept themselves afloat against the TNT Tropang Giga, 84-71, in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 1.

Brownlee, struggling all series long, finally hit his first triple of the Finals with a little over six minutes left of the payoff period, sparking a backbreaking 16-3 finishing kick for the Kings to cut the series deficit down to 1-2.

The Kings tightened up their defensive screws in the waning minutes with Brownlee proving the epitome to Ginebra’s desire to finally win one in the Finals series after foiling two crucial shots – first on a three-point attempt on Calvin Oftana and the more crucial one on the layup of Glenn Khobuntin.

Brownlee finished with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds but was felt more defensively with his four rejections and one steal. 

With him taking the backseat on the offense, Maverick Ahanmisi stepped up with 15 points – including a layup that beat the shot clock and gave the Kings a comfortable 79-69 lead with 1:32 left.

Scottie Thompson chalked up 15 points as Stephen Holts and Japeth Aguilar finished with 10 apiece while also combining for 13 rebounds.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played the entirety of the contest for the second straight game although this time his 24 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block went down the drain as TNT failed to capitalize on their chances to break the spirits of Ginebra.

Poi Erram had 12 while Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy added 10 apiece.

Game 4 of the Finals series is on Sunday, Nov. 3, still at the Big Dome.