PBA Images
Justin Brownlee had a triple double and four locals scored in twin digits for Barangay Ginebra Sunday night in a 129-124 nipping of PBA Governors’ Cup title favorite San Miguel Beer at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee scored 28 points, had 14 rebounds and the same number of assists in leading a balanced Ginebra offensive as the Gin Kings withstood a 52-point night by San Miguel import Dez Wells to improve to a level 2-2 record.
It was the first loss in five games for the Triple Crown sweep-seeking Beermen, leaving idle TNT as the only undefeated side in the 12-team field.
Brownlee was 60 percent efficient from the field, and the Kings showed how equipped they are in their quest to win the season-closing conference for the third time in the last four seasons.
Wells went 16-for-25 from two-point zone but was 2-12 from beyond the arc, and the Beermen actually were able to make it close in the end through Von Pessumal, who hit three straight triples late in the fourth.
June Mar Fajardo had 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Beermen.
Stanley Pringle had 27 points and LA Tenorio started at the point to shoot 19. Japeth Aguilar, Jeff Chan and Art Dela Cruz combined for another 43 points.
Meanwhile, Jeron Teng returned to active duty and was the key piece in helping Alaska snap a woeful start earlier in the night.
Teng made some crucial plays in the endgame and helped the Aces break through in the season-closing conference with a 78-71 decision of Rain or Shine.
Import Franko House accounted for 22 points that went with 23 rebounds, but it was Teng, who was sidelined because of a right hamstring injury, who proved key by shooting eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter to help the Aces keep the Elasto Painters at bay.
The sophomore banger also had nine rebounds and the last of his two assists in an inbounds play to Jayvee Casio for a layup that put the game to bed for Alaska, 76-70, going into the final 17.7 seconds.
“Absolutely,” said Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso in reiterating how big a role Teng played in Alaska’s first win in six games, the same record now being held by the Painters.
Rain or Shine lost for the fourth straight game.
“It’s clear that we lack someone like him in the small forward spot,” Cariaso said. “Someone who can defend, rebound, score.”
Teng said that he still felt some tightness in his hamstring, but declared that he would be good for the long haul as Alaska tries to salvage its season.