Barangay Ginebra made sure there won’t be time for its opponent to catch up.
Learning their lessons from their previous loss in Game 2 in the best-of-five semifinals series, the Gin Kings won in convincing fashion, blasting Magnolia, 103-80, and moving within striking distance in the championship round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on 18 December at the Philsports Arena.
The Gin Kings took advantage of the absence of Hotshots point guard Paul Lee, the hero of Game 2, who was indisposed.
Without their top gun and playmaker, the Hotshots couldn’t stop the Gin Kings from the get-go.
Two-time Best Import Justin Brownlee shot 38 points and achieved a milestone as early as half time, scoring his 5,000th point, the fifth player to have done it in PBA history along with Norman Black, Bobby Parks, Sean Chambers, and Lew Massey.
Brownlee, however, was the first import in the last 27 years since Chambers to reach 5,000 points.
More important than his latest feat was Barangay Ginebra’s possible return to the finals if it wins Game 4 on 21 December at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The scores:
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 38, Tenorio 20, Thompson 12, Standhardinger 8, Malonzo 8, J.Aguilar 6, Gray 2, Pringle 2, Mariano 2, R.Aguilar 2, Pinto 0, Pessumal 0
MAGNOLIA 80 – Jalalon 16, Rakocevic 10, Dionsio 10, Ahanmisi 9, Abueva 8, Wong 8, Barroca 6, Corpuz 4, Mendoza 3, Sangalang 2, Laput 2, Lee 0, Dela Rosa 0, Reavis 0
QUARTERS: 17-15, 49-34, 74-61, 103-80
