Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee during Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Meralco.–PBA IMAGES
ANTIPOLO—Barangay Ginebra earned the right to take on NorthPort in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after outlasting a gritty Meralco squad, 94-87, in the knockout game of their best-of-three quarterfinal series Sunday night at Ynares Center here.
Justin Brownlee, Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos were among the key players in the Gin Kings’ triumph that came despite trailing by 13 in the second quarter and having to buy time before seeing off the Bolts, who spent the fourth trying to mount a comeback.
Ginebra claimed the last spot in the Final Four where it will meet NorthPort and ex-King Arvin Tolentino in a best-of-seven duel which starts Feb. 26 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: PBA: Justin Brownlee, Ginebra not surprised by tough Meralco act
Brownlee finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks as Ginebra kept the flag high for San Miguel Corporation, which extended its streak of semifinals by at least one of its teams.
Had Ginebra lost, no SMC would be in the semis for the first time since the 1995 Commissioner’s Cup.
Holt had 17 points and five rebounds while Abarrientos also delivered with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists, a couple of days after receiving online death threats for missing a game-tying four-pointer last Friday that forced a decider.
READ: PBA: RJ Abarrientos condemns death threats after Ginebra loss
Chris Newsome scored 22 but fouled out late in the fourth as the Bolts were denied an opportunity of beating their old rival. Bong Quinto fought gallantly on his way to 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Bolts saw active consultant Nenad Vucinic getting tossed in the fourth for technical fouls, the second to protest an offensive foul which was later reversed when Meralco challenged the call.
Meralco, however, still has one semifinal berth to fight for as it will take on the New Taipei Kings in its final group stage match in the East Asia Super League.
Bolts import Akil Mitchell was held to just eight points on top of 12 rebounds as his nagging back injury hounded him throughout.