One more win

Ginebra takes game 5 in overtime

Justin Brownlee came balling on Independence Day, freeing Barangay Ginebra from a risky 2-3 deficit against TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

MANILA, Philippines — On full auto mode, Brownlee gunned a career-high 54 points as he powered the Gin Kings to a 100-95 overtime victory in Game 5 that instead moved them on the cusp of dethroning the Tropang 5G.

As was his habit in high-stakes, high-pressure situations, Brownlee stepped up to the plate and hit big shots after big shots to save the day for Ginebra and their faithful among the 18,039-strong holiday crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With a personal 9-0 blast, the tournament’s Best Import awardee wiped out  TNT’s 87-80 tear late in regulation and gave Ginebra an 89-87 cushion with 1:15 left.

After Roger Pogoy knotted the count and ultimately set the stage for OT, “JB” continued his rampage and added five in extra time, helping Ginebra take a 96-92 bubble with 2:10 to go.

“I just wanted to be aggressive for my team. TNT played very tough and very hard, but we just showed never-say-die tonight,” said Brownlee who surpassed his previous high of 51 set in a 108-102 win over San Miguel in last season’s Governors’ Cup eliminations.

RJ Abarrientos, with 13, Japeth Aguilar with 12, and Troy Rosario with 10, supported Brownlee, who also hauled down 14 rebounds.

“I said last time we shouldn’t be so Justin-centered and what happened next? He came out with 54. He was awesome,” said coach Tim Cone.

“The way they’re defending us, they’re putting pressure on Justin to win the game by himself…we really had no recourse but to allow that to happen. But you do what you have to do to win,” he added.