PBA: Ginebra shuts down Meralco to win quarterfinals Game 1

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee tries to get past Meralco Bolts’ stingy defense during the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals Game 1. –PBA IMAGES

Barangay Ginebra repelled Meralco’s comeback in the fourth quarter to get a 99-92 win in Game 1 of their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Justin Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson came through for the Gin Kings in drawing first blood in the latest chapter of what seemed to be a never-ending playoff battle with the Bolts.

Brownlee had 29 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals to lead Ginebra, which led by 15 but saw Meralco come to take the driver seat in the final period.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals

Thompson posted 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, Aguilar made 10 points and seven rebounds while Abarrientos drained a crucial three that put Ginebra up 95-85 with less than three minutes to go.

The game also saw the return of Joe Devance from his two-year retirement, scoring two points in six minutes.

Game 2 is set Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Ginebra aiming for a commanding 2-0 lead.

READ: PBA: Ginebra looks to lock down defensively vs playoffs rival Meralco

Five players scored in double figures led by Cliff Hodge’s 23 points in the defeat that saw Meralco rally from a 66-51 deficit in the third.

Meralco went in front 78-77 with 9:14 in the fourth on a basket by Chris Banchero, but Brownlee and Aguilar accounted for much of the points Ginebra produced the rest of the way.

Allen Durham, facing Ginebra for the fourth time in the playoffs, but first outside of a championship setting, tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds.