Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee tries to get previous Meralco Bolts’ stingy protection throughout the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals Sport 1. –PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra repelled Meralco’s comeback within the fourth quarter to get a 99-92 win in Sport 1 of their best-of-five quarterfinal sequence within the PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson got here by for the Gin Kings in drawing first blood within the newest chapter of what gave the impression to be a endless playoff battle with the Bolts.
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Brownlee had 29 factors, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals to steer Ginebra, which led by 15 however noticed Meralco come to take the driving force seat within the remaining interval.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
Thompson posted 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Aguilar made 10 factors and 7 rebounds whereas Abarrientos drained an important three that put Ginebra up 95-85 with lower than three minutes to go.
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The sport additionally noticed the return of Joe Devance from his two-year retirement, scoring two factors in six minutes.
Sport 2 is ready Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum, with Ginebra aiming for a commanding 2-0 lead.
READ: PBA: Ginebra appears to be like to lock down defensively vs playoffs rival Meralco
5 gamers scored in double figures led by Cliff Hodge’s 23 factors within the defeat that noticed Meralco rally from a 66-51 deficit within the third.
Meralco went in entrance 78-77 with 9:14 within the fourth on a basket by Chris Banchero, however Brownlee and Aguilar accounted for a lot of the factors Ginebra produced the remainder of the way in which.
Allen Durham, dealing with Ginebra for the fourth time within the playoffs, however first exterior of a championship setting, tallied 17 factors and 13 rebounds.
