Brownlee career-high 51 points gives SMB its first loss
Justin Brownlee may have erased doubters by setting a new career high in his stint with Asia’s first and oldest pay-for-play league.
The 36-year-old floor general erupted for 51 points to set his new career high in the PBA, leading Ginebra and snapping the resurgence of the San Miguel Beermen in the 49th Season Governors’ Cup, 108-102 on Tuesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee took over in the second half in the second half of play, especially in the fourth quarter where the Gin Kings outscored the Beermen 34-23 to have a better grasp of the victory.
The 3-time best import sealed the game with a win-sealing layup to give Ginebra its first win of the new season after dropping their first game against Rain or Shine in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Brownlee also added 13 rebounds, six steals and five assists as he bounced back from his flat performance in their out-of-town game last Saturday.
Japeth Aguilar led the local unit in scoring as he dropped 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field while rookie RJ Abarrientos redeemed himself from his 1-of-15 shooting in his PBA debut game by scoring 13 points on 5-of-12 from the field to go with five assists.
SMB import Jordan Adams who scored 50 points in their last game, led the Beermen in scoring with 23 (15 in the 1st half). Four local players also scored in double-digit for San Miguel with June Mar Fajardo contributing 17, CJ Perez 14, Terrence Romeo 13 and Jeron Teng 12.
It was a close battle between the two teams as they closed the first quarter with 24-all, and closed the half with 46-all deadlock.
The Beermen took the lead at the end of the third period 79-74 behind Teng’s 12 points and Romeo adding seven while the whole team hit 66-percent from the field against the Gin Kings 47.4 percent.
But in the fourth and final period, Ginebra made their counter attack including the two consecutive baskets made by Aguilar to tie the game at 102, and added six more to finally seal the game.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 108 - Brownlee 51, J.Aguilar 21, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 7, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 4, Go 4, Tenorio 3, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Garcia 0.
SAN MIGUEL 102 - Adams 23, Fajardo 17, Perez 14, Romeo 13, Teng 12, Ross 5, Rosales 4, Trollano 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0.
QUARTERS: , 24-24, 46-46, 74-79, 108-102
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