PBA: Orlando Johnson redeems self, leads San Miguel past Ginebra

San Miguel’s Orlando Johnson dunks during a game against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Araneta Coliseum. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—San Miguel took a share of the fifth spot after fending off Barangay Ginebra, 110-102, in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen improved to 4-3 and tied Phoenix in fifth place while the Gin Kings dropped their fourth straight game for a 3-4 record.

Determined to pull away from a small 58-57 lead early in the third, San Miguel went on a 18-7 run with CJ Perez flushing one home for a 76-65 lead with four minutes left in the quarter.

The Beermen kept their composure in the fourth as the closest Ginebra got was within five, 89-84, after a Justin Brownlee dunk with 8:03 left.

After a dreadful first game for San Miguel, Orlando Johnson bounced back with a near-triple double effort.

“We stuck to what we did against TNT since that game was the first game of Orlando after a long break,” said Austria, whose import last played in the PBA in 2015 for Ginebra.

“I’m happy to see him playing and meeting the expectations we’ve been looking for him.”

Johnson finished with just 12 points on a forgettable 3-of-22 shooting in the Beermen’s 96-81 loss to the Tropang Giga but more than doubled his production against the Gin Kings with 31 points along with 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Perez also finished in double figures for the Beermen with 23 points and five steals while June Mar Fajardo pitched in 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Brownelee had a game-high 40 points with nine rebounds for Ginebra while Christian Standhardinger filled the stat sheets with eight points, 17 boards, and eight assists.

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