Ginebra routs Meralco, moves closer to PBA Governors’ Cup title
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 15:47:54 +0000
BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel was unstoppable in Game 4 to move a game closer to winning the Philippine Basketball Association Season 44 Governors’ Cup title.
Despite losing the Best Import award to counterpart Allen Durham, Justine Brownlee carried the Gin Kings to a lopsided 94-72 victory against a struggling Meralco squad on Wednesday to get a 3-1 advantage in their best-of-seven championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee waxed hot in the early part of the game, scoring 15 of his game-high 27 points in the second period in addition to his eight rebounds, eight assists, five steals and four blocks. Stanley Pringle added 21 points and seven rebounds also for the Gin Kings.
“We are very methodical tonight in breaking them down a little bit on the offensive side and then we did a great job on Durham. I mean we held them eight points at halftime and that’s amazing,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who praised Brownlee for taking charge in the game.
“Justin is Justin you know. Even though he didn’t win the Best Import award, he’ll still be going down as one of the greatest imports at least in Ginebra history, maybe in PBA history. Those things are not surprising when Justin does that kind of things, takes over a quarter or takes over a half.”
Scottie Thompson made 16 points while LA Tenorio and former Meralco Jared Dillinger contributed eight and seven points, respectively, for Ginebra.
After a 14-all standoff at the end of first quarter, the Gin Kings broke away in the middle of second period as they built a 33-20 cushion behind Brownlee’s display of firepower.
They stretched their lead to 61-42 midway in the third canto and didn’t look back the rest of the way.
Durham tallied 21 points, 27 rebounds and seven assists while Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan scored 12 points each for the Bolts.
Almazan still managed to play despite nursing a left knee meniscus injury he sustained in Game 3.
Ginebra could wrap up the series in Game 5 on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City for their 12th overall title and third championship in the Governors’ Cup conference.
Northport’s Christian Standhardinger was named the Best Player of the Conference.
Scores:
Ginebra 94 – Brownlee 27, Pringle 21, Thompson 16, Tenorio 8, Dillinger 7, Aguilar 5, Caguioa 5, Mariano 3, Slaughter 2, Caperal 0, Chan 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Meralco 72 – Durham 21, Newsome 12, Almazan 12, Quinto 7, Salva 6, Maliksi 6, Caram 4, Amer 2, Hodge 2, Faundo 0, Jackson 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 14-14, 42-31, 70-55, 94-72.
JOSEF T. RAMOS