MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Justin Brownlee dropped a career-high 46 points in leading the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel back to the finals of the PBA Govenors’ Cup following a 115-105 win over the TNT KaTropa in Game 4 at Smart-Araneta Coliseum Sunday, October 8.

With his team trailing by 18 early in the third quarter, 54-72, Brownlee took matters into his own hands and scored 10 straight points to bring the Gin Kings within 5, 67-72. He scored 16 points in the third quarter alone as Ginebra trimmed a 14-point first half deficit to just 6 entering the fourth, 80-86.

The hot-shooting import continued his prolific play in the final period as he scored 5 straight points to tie the game at 90-all.

TNT took a 94-90 advantage after 4 straight points from Jayson Castro with 7:28 remaining but the Gin Kings rode on a 12-0 run to pull away for good. Ginebra outscored the Katropa 35-19 in the fourth.

“Talk N Text played an unbelievable first half. They were making shots and it was quite a frustrating first half for us but I think our guys got collected in the second half and we started playing more like we do, we got movement and Justin’s presence really told in the end,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

After shooting the lights out in the first half, going 8-of-18 from long distance and 57 percent from the field, the KaTropa proved to have missed the services of import Glen Rice Jr as TNT buried only 13 of its 52 second half attempts.

TNT import Glen Rice Jr was ejected in the first quarter following an altercation with Kevin Ferrer. Rice, who had two points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal early on, picked up a flagrant 1 and a technical foul for pushing Ferrer to the ground, then throwing the ball and narrowly missing Ferrer’s head. 

LA Tenorio continued his fine play with 25 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds while Greg Slaughter added 21 points, 11 of which came in the fourth, 9 boards and 2 blocks for Ginebra.

In Rice Jr’s absence, Troy Rosario paced the KaTropa with 28 points and 10 rebounds but was a non-factor when it mattered most as he went 2-of-11 in the fourth quarter.

Castro chipped in 26 points, 9 assists and 7 boards in the losing effort.

Ginebra will meet the Meralco Bolts in a rematch of the 2016 Governors’ Cup finals in Game 1 on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Scores:

Ginebra (115): Brownlee 46, Tenorio 25, Slaughter 21, Mercado 11, Aguilar 6, Ferrer 4, Caguioa 2, Devance 0, Thompson 0

TNT (105): Rosario 28, Castro 26, Pogoy 14, Semerad 12, Williams 10, Tautuaa 9, Reyes 4, Rice Jr 2, Carey 0, Golla 0, Hernandez 0, Nuyles 0, Seigle 0

Quarter scores: 32-41, 52-66, 80-86, 115-105. – Rappler.com