PBA: Ginebra picks up ‘ugly win’ as it turns back NorthPort

Justin Brownlee carries Ginebra. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra escaped hard-fighting NorthPort, 73-70, for its second straight victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings’ beloved import, scored 32 points to lead all of Ginebra in scoring. He added eight points, six assists, and registered five steals against a stockier counterpart.

Greg Slaughter and Scottie Thompson were the only two other twin-digit performers, tossing 16 and 11, respectively, for the defending champions.

“It certainly wasn’t pretty,” coach Tim Cone said. “We were turnover-prone tonight. The zone really bothered us, gave us a hard time finding a high-percentage shot.”

“That was an ugly one, but we’ll take it,” Cone said.

Ginebra managed to widen the gap by as many as nine points in the third frame, but the Batang Pier—buoyed by the one-two punch of Sean Anthony and Mo Tautuaa—managed to keep it close in the stretch.

Tautuaa had 15 to lead NorthPort in the affair while Anthony 14, with the latter missing two triples in a whirlwind sequence late in the stretch that would’ve sent the game to overtime.

Curiously, NorthPort’s taller import Prince Ibeh, only had eight points and gave little resistance as Brownlee caught fire late.

Ginebra now enjoys a 2-1 record and faces Rain or Shine next.

NorthPort, which absorbed its first loss in four outings, plunges into a series of character tests, beginning with powerhouse San Miguel Beer.

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