Ginebra import Justin Brownlee in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra expects Justin Brownlee to suit up for Game 6 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals after dealing with food poisoning in Wednesday’s loss to TNT.
Coach Tim Cone said in a story on the PBA website that Brownlee will likely still be under the weather after the illness forced him to miss the second half of Ginebra’s 104-95 defeat that gave TNT a 3-2 lead in the series.
“He’s out of the hospital, but missed practice,” Cone said in the article. “We do expect him to play [In Game 6], though we don’t expect him to be 100 percent.”
Brownlee was sent to the hospital shortly after being forced to watch the rest of Game 5 from the locker room.
His departure stunned Ginebra fans, who would later watch their team squander a 14-point lead as TNT put up a huge performance anchored by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“It’s just tough without Brownlee,” lamented Christian Standhardinger, who was among a few that was forced to carry the load sans Brownlee.
It’s the first time that the Gin Kings are in a must-win hole going to Game 6 of a Finals since Brownlee’s debut in 2016.
But a win will not only force a deciding seventh game on Sunday but give Brownlee more time to make a full recovery.