Ginebra takes semis opener over San Miguel

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Barangay Ginebra rallied past San Miguel Beer, 115-108, for a 1-0 headstart in their best-of-five semifinals series on Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Justin Brownlee scored a conference-high 39 points that went with 16 rebounds while also drawing huge support from the Kings’ locals with Japeth Aguilar, Sol Mercado and Scottie Thompson having significant impact.

“That first half, we looked like we were totally overmatched. They were just doing what they wanted to do and they were doing it with such ease,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, whose team trailed by as much as 12 in the first half.

“At halftime, the guys came out and played and raised the level of their game.”

Aguilar had 22 points, Mercado added 19, 15 coming in the second half, while Thompson tallied 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Ginebra got its game going after with its three-guard lineup of Mark Caguioa, Mercado and Thompson. With the three picking up the tempo, the Kings were able to pull ahead, 92-80.

“We finally got things going and they started getting some confidence. It was great because I certainly didn’t have a lot of confidnce in that first half.”

San Miguel battled back as it leaned on its outside shooting to pull within three, 105-102 after an Alex Cabagnot triple with 3:58 to play.

But the momentum would shift anew after Aguilar’s block on June Mar Fajardo forced the Beermen center to turn the ball over.

Brownlee carried the Kings in the clutch. He scored nine points in the fourth quarter including a three-point play that pushed Ginebra’s lead to nine, 111-102, with 1:21 left.

“We lost our confidence and we were determined to get it back. And the guys kept on battling and battling, got the momentum, and we got ahead,” said Cone.

Game 2 is on Wednesday, at 7 p.m., also at the Big Dome.

Elijah Millsap paced San Miguel with a triple-double with his 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Fajardo ended up with 25 markers and five boards, while Alex Cabagnot shot 6-of-9 from threes to finish with 20 points, five assists, and four rebounds in the loss.

The scores:

GINEBRA 115 -Brownlee 39, Aguilar 22, Mercado 19, Devance 12, Thompson 11, Caguioa 8, Mariano 4, Marcelo 0, Tenorio 0, Cruz 0.

SAN MIGUEL 108 – Millsap 29, Fajardo 25, Cabagnot 20, Santos 15, Lassiter 14, Tubid 3, Espinas 2, Ross 0.

Quarterscores: 24-36, 46-57, 79-76, 115-108