PBA: Ginebra defeats Alaska, notches fifth straight win

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel relied on some end-game heroics from Justin Brownlee to claim its fifth straight victory by beating the Alaska Aces 103-102 on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum in the elimination round of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Brownlee finished the game with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, while Joe Devance had 12. LA Tenorio and Scotty Thompson chipped in 11 points each, while Mark Caguioa led the bench with 10.

A Cory Jefferson trey with 3:12 remaining had Alaska ahead by six, but Joe Devance and Kevin Ferrer completed a five-point swing at the other end, 101-100.

Up just one with 19 seconds remaining, Ginebra put Chris Banchero on the stripe, where the guard split to stretch the lead to two. The Gin Kings had no timeouts, and had to run the length of the floor before Justin Brownlee received the ball high up top for the layup and the foul.

Ginebra's import then sank the extra free throw with 7.2 to go for a 103-102 edge.

Off a timeout, Alaska went to Jefferson for a quick jumper, but the import came up way short. The Aces had another shot after Ginebra was unable to secure the rebound, but Jayvee Casio's try from the corner was off to the left, letting the Gin Kings claim the victory.

Cory Jefferson finished the game with 25 points and 18 boards for Alaska, while Vic Manuel came up with 13 off the bench. Jayvee Casio was the only other player in double figures with 12, as Chris Banchero, Sonny Thoss, and Dondon Hontiveros had nine each. — BM, GMA News