MANILA – Justin Brownlee let his game do the talking as he towed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to a 3-1 series lead after dominating the Meralco Bolts, 94-72, in Game 4 of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Losing the Best Import award to Allen Durham, Brownlee went extra fire as he tallied a machine statistics of 27 points, eight rebounds, eight assist, five steals and four blocks to move the Kings a game closer to coronation in the best-of-seven series showdown.
Stanley Pringle was also efficient all game long for Ginebra as he submitted 21 markers to go along with seven rebounds, while Earl Scottie Thompson contributed another 15 points for the Kings.
From a 14-all score after the first quarter, Ginebra slowly created space from the Bolts via Brownlee and Pringle for a 33-20 edge in the second period. Meralco rallied to within 27-33, but the Kings were able to establish a firm 42-31 halftime lead with Brownlee heating up.
In the beginning second half, Ginebra established a 61-42 edge on baskets by the Brownlee-Pringle duo, but Meralco countered with their own form of offensive gunning to bring the trail at 51-65, until a consistent scoring from Jared Dillenger blew Ginebra to a 70-55 advantage.
Meralco made its last scoring pump in
the fourth quarter at 61-75, however, Ginebra went for the kill coming from
Brownlee, Thompson and Caguioa baskets to build the largest lead of the ball
game at 90-63.
Durham finished the match with 21 points, 27 rebounds and seven assists, while
Raymond Almazan and Chris Newsome contributed 12 markers apiece for the Bolts.
The Kings, who won two of the last three PBA Governors’ Cup championships, will try to finish off the Bolts in Game 5 of the series on Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City./PN
