MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings rode on the offensive outbursts of Justin Brownlee to score a 100-95 overtime win against TNT Tropang 5G in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player finished with a career-high 54 points to go with 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and a block as the Gin Kings took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Rhon Jay Abarrientos overcame early struggles to end up with 13 points, while Japeth Aguilar and Jeth Troy Rosario added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
Barangay Ginebra can secure the championship in Game 6 on Sunday night at the same venue.
The Gin Kings had a better start offensively as they surged to a 12-point lead early in the second frame, but the Tropang 5G countered with a run to take a 50-48 halftime lead.
The Tropang 5G even took an 11-point advantage in the second half, but the Gin Kings leaned on consecutive inside attacks from Brownlee to force an overtime period.
After trading baskets early in the extension period, the Gin Kings managed to pull away on back-to-back conversions from Abarrientos and Rosario before sealing the win with two freebies from Abarrientos.
Chris McCullough paced the Tropang 5G with 38 points and 16 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy and Jordan Heading added 23 and 13 points, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 100 — Brownlee 54, Abarrientos 13, J. Aguilar 12, Rosario 10, Thompson 6, Holt 2, Abis 2, Pinto 1, Gray 0, Cu 0, Torres 0.
TNT 95 — McCullough 38, Pogoy 23, Heading 13, Oftana 9, Castro 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Galinato 2, Nambatac 2, Khobuntin 0, Williams 0.
Quarterscores: 25-17, 48-50, 65-70, 89-89, 100-95.
