Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee tries to get past Meralco Bolts’ stingy defense in the course of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals Game 1. –PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra repelled Meralco’s comeback within the fourth quarter to get a 99-92 win in Game 1 of their best-of-five quarterfinal series within the PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson got here through for the Gin Kings in drawing first blood in the most recent chapter of what appeared to be a never-ending playoff battle with the Bolts.
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Brownlee had 29 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals to steer Ginebra, which led by 15 but saw Meralco come to take the driving force seat in the ultimate period.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
Thompson posted 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, Aguilar made 10 points and 7 rebounds while Abarrientos drained a vital three that put Ginebra up 95-85 with lower than three minutes to go.
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The sport also saw the return of Joe Devance from his two-year retirement, scoring two points in six minutes.
Game 2 is about Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Ginebra aiming for a commanding 2-0 lead.
READ: PBA: Ginebra looks to lock down defensively vs playoffs rival Meralco
Five players scored in double figures led by Cliff Hodge’s 23 points within the defeat that saw Meralco rally from a 66-51 deficit within the third.
Meralco went in front 78-77 with 9:14 within the fourth on a basket by Chris Banchero, but Brownlee and Aguilar accounted for much of the points Ginebra produced the remainder of the way in which.
Allen Durham, facing Ginebra for the fourth time within the playoffs, but first outside of a championship setting, tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds.
