MANILA — Justin Brownlee delivered a dominant fourth-quarter takeover as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel stormed back to beat Phoenix Super LPG, 109-96, turning a tight contest into a decisive victory in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the Gin Kings trailing 81-85 early in the final period, Brownlee ignited a blistering run, scoring 10 straight points before Earl Scottie Thompson added a layup to swing the momentum for good and give Ginebra a 93-85 lead.
The Kings never looked back, as Brownlee, Thompson, Rhon Jay Abarrientos, and Stephen Holt sustained the surge, stretching the advantage to as much as 109-92 in the closing minute.
Brownlee finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to earn Player of the Game honors, powering Ginebra to back-to-back wins for the first time this conference and a solo fourth-place standing with a 4-2 record.
Abarrientos provided crucial outside firepower with 28 points, including seven three-pointers, while Thompson and Holt chipped in 17 and 13 points, respectively, in the balanced offensive effort.
Phoenix fought hard behind a monstrous outing from James Dickey III, who posted a 21-point, 21-rebound double-double, while Kenneth Tuffin added 18 markers. Jason Perkins and Evan Nelle contributed 17 and 11 points, respectively, as the Fuel Masters slipped to 3-3.
Meanwhile, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots cruised to a commanding 120-101 victory over an import-less San Miguel Beermen squad, forging a tie with their rivals at 3-4 in the standings.
Clinton Chapman led Magnolia with 34 points, along with six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, while Jerom Lastimosa added 13 points and six assists. Ian Sangalang and Zavier Lucero chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Jaymar Perez paced San Miguel with 23 points, while Moala Tautuaa and Jericho Cruz scored 13 apiece. June Mar Fajardo and Celedonio Trollano added 12 and 10 markers, respectively, in the loss.
The Beermen played without import Justin Patton, who, according to reports, went AWOL and did not show up at the game venue./PN
