MANILA, Philippines — Another game, another blowout.
This time, it’s Barangay Ginebra’s turn to rip the game wide open, making mincemeat of San Miguel, 130-100, in Game Fourof the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Friday night at the Big Dome, and leveling the playing field at two games each.
Justin Brownlee proved he is as mighty as his billing, extending his steady showing with 37 points on just 18 shots. His performance, adorned with 11 boards and seven assists, came in the night he was finally crowned Best Import — an accolade that has eluded him for two years.
“I’m realy proud of our guys showing resilience after two terrible games,” Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said. ”We talked about letting our actions speaklouder than our words. And we did it.”
“I think everbody was focused and locked in to do everything to win this game,” Brownlee chimed in.
The locals stepped up for the Gin Kings as well. Greg Slaughter posted 19 points to go with Jeo Devance’s 18. LA Tenorio finally go over a shooting funk, registering 17 markers.
The Gin Kings, who before a rowdy crowd of 12,288 carved the series-equalizing victory, went on a blistering start, firing for 17 unanswered points to open the game. They went on to stretch the lead to as many as 38 points, a pair of points shy from the biggest separation in Game 3.
San Miguel Beer was buoyed by Arwind Santos who had 22 points in the affair.
Renaldo Balkman had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. His shortage from the scoring end was sorely missed by the Beermen.
The two teams go at it again on Sunday again at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
Ginebra (130): Brownlee 37, Slaughter 19, Devance 18, Tenorio 17, Mercado 9, Aguilar 8, Thompson 7, Caperal 7, Chan 4, Mariano 2, Manuel 2, Caguioa 0, Cruz 0, Ferrer 0
San Miguel (100): Santos 22, Fajardo 15, Standhardinger 15, Balkman 14, Cabagnot 13, Nabong 6, Lassiter 4, Pessumal 4, Heruela 3, Ross 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Mamaril 0
Quarter scores: 39-21, 67-52, 97-75, 130-100