KINGS NAKAUNA SA BEERMEN

Mga laro bukas:
(Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs TNT
7:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra

NAGPAMALAS si Justin Brownlee ng kahanga-hangang outside shooting upang pangunahan ang Barangay Ginebra sa 122-105 panalo kontra San Miguel Beer sa pagsisimula ng kanilang PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals duel kahapon sa PhilSports Arena.

Nagbuhos si Brownlee ng game-high 33 points, kabilang ang 20 sa third period nang magsimulang lumayo ang Kings at sa huli ay kinuha ang Game 1 sa best-of-seven series.

“I thought we played a really good first half, but I knew we needed to play an even better second half and that was the (halftime) message,” sabi ni Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“We were playing in the rhythm that we wanted to play and then this guy (Brownlee)… he came out and hit shot after shot after shot that really extended the lead for us.”

Tampok sa kahanga-hangang performance ng three-time Best Import ang kanyang unang limang bomba mula sa four-point arc.

“I just wanted to come out and be aggressive,” sabi ni Brownlee, na nagmintis sa kanyang ika-6 na pagsubok sa 27 feet subalit nakasisiguro na ngayon ng single-game record para sa pinakamaraming four-pointers sa isang laro habang nagtala rin ng 3-of-5 mula sa three-point line.

“It’s something that teams in this league have taken advantage of,” sabi ni Brownlee patungkol sa four-point arc.

“Me, myself, and Ginebra, we practice those shots so just keep on practicing and be better and better, be more comfortable taking them in the game.”

Nag-ambag si Stephen Holt ng 30 points habang tumapos si RJ Abarrientos na may 13 points, 11 mula sa second period na nagresulta sa 63-58 halftime lead ng Ginebra.

Umiskor si AJ Anosike ng 27 points upang pangunahan ang SMB habang nagdagdag si Marcio Lassiter ng 18 points at nagtala si June Mar Fajardo ng 16 points, 16 rebounds at 7 dimes.
CLYDE MARIANO

Iskor:
GINEBRA (122) – Brownlee 33, Holt 30, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 10, Ahanmisi 9, J.Aguilar 9, Pinto 9, Devance 8, Adamos 1, Cu 0.

SAN MIGUEL (105) – Anosike 27, Lassiter 18, Fajardo 16, Perez 13, Ross 7, Rosales 6, Romeo 6, Enciso 6, Cruz 4, Tautuaa 2, Nava 0, Brondial 0.

QUARTERS: 27-28, 63-58, 97-78, 122-105