PBA: Brownlee drops career-high 54 as Barangay Ginebra tops TNT in OT, nears Commissioner's Cup crown

Justin Brownlee exploded for a career-high 54 points as Barangay Ginebra outlasted TNT, 100-95, in overtime in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the win, Barangay Ginebra grabbed a 3-2 series lead and moved one victory away from winning the championship ahead of a potential title-clinching Game 6 on Sunday.

Brownlee shot 19-of-30 from the field and added 22 points from the free-throw line, along with 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block to power Barangay Ginebra in the crucial win.

“What did I say after the last game? I think we shouldn’t be so Justin-centric. And what happens, he comes out and hits 54 tonight, goes to show what I know,” Cone said.

“I think the key to tonight’s game, Justin was awesome. They’re putting the pressure on Justin to win games by himself. They’re putting a guy on him that Justin knows he could attack. They’re really forcing Justin to go one on one and do his thing. We really have no recourse to allow it happen, otherwise, we’re not getting anything done,” he added.

“When it comes to winning, you do what you have to do to win and this was a big game.”

Barangay Ginebra trailed 87-80 with less than four minutes remaining before Brownlee sparked a personal 9-0 run to swing the lead back to the Gin Kings.

RR Pogoy tied the game at 1:10 left, but both teams failed to convert in the closing possessions, including Jayson Castro’s long-range attempt, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Brownlee scored Ginebra’s first five points to counter Chris McCullough as the Gin Kings led 94-92. Rey Nambatac answered with a basket to tie it, but RJ Abarrientos responded to restore the lead.

Troy Rosario then added a key basket to give Ginebra breathing room with 1:47 left, while McCullough split his free throws after a foul by Brownlee.

Abarrientos then iced the game at the line after McCullough and Pogoy missed their three-point attempts, while Jordan Heading also failed to connect from deep.

Aside from Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos added 13 points, while Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The loss spoiled Chris McCullough’s 38-point, 16-rebound performance and RR Pogoy’s 23-point outing for TNT.

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 100 – Brownlee 54, Abarrientos 13, J.Aguilar 12, Rosario 10, Thompson 6, Holt 2, Abis 2, Pinto 1, Torres 0, Cu 0, Gray 0

TNT 95 – McCullough 38, Pogoy 23, Heading 13, Oftana 9, Castro 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Nambatac 2, Galinato 2, Williams 0, Khobuntin 0.

Quarters: 25-17, 48-50, 75-70, 89-89, 100-95 (OT):

—JKC, GMA News