MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings weathered Meralco Bolts’ repeated run to score a 99-93 win in Game 2 of the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last night at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After seeing their 20-point edge trimmed to 84-86 midway in the fourth, the Kings got free throws from Negrense Jeff Chan and three-point plays by Christian Standhardinger and Justin Brownlee to stretch the lead to 94-86.
Meralco made its last push at 91-94 on a triple by Chris Newsome, but a dunk by Brownlee followed by three free throw conversions from him sealed the win for Barangay Ginebra.
Brownlee finished the match with a near triple-double 36 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists as the defending champions Gin Kings tied the best-of-seven title series at 1-1.
Earl Scottie Thompson had double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds. LA Tenorio, Standhardinger and Nard John Pinto contributed 13, 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
The Kings and the Bolts were engaged in tight exchange in the first quarter behind exchange of baskets between Brownlee and Meralco Bolts import Tony Bishop, who gave his team a 23-20 edge after the first 12 minutes.
Ginebra turned things around in the second quarter with three-point conversions from Pinto, Tenorio and Thompson and inside shots from Brownlee and Standhardinger for a 60-42 halftime edge.
The Bolts countered with a strong run in the third quarter with Aaron Black dropping most of his points as they chopped down Gin Kings’ advantage to 10 points.
Meralco went on with its run at the onset of the fourth quarter behind Bishop and Chris Banchero as they pulled to within 84-86 on an inside conversion by Raymond Almazan.
Bishop finished the match with double-double 31 points and 13 rebounds, Black chipped in career-high 24 markers, while Banchero ended up with 14 for the Bolts.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 99 – Brownlee 36, Thompson 16, Renorio 13, Standhardinger 12, Pinto 10, Chan 7, Mariano 5, Salado 0, Onwubere 0, Devance 0, Ayaay 0.
MERALCO 93 – Bishop 31, Black 24, Banchero 14, Newsome 7, Almazan 6, Quinto 5, Hodge 4, Baclao 2, Belo 0, Hugnatan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-23, 60-42, 82-71, 99-93./PN
