Justin Brownlee just missed out on a 30-20 for the Gin Kings. PBA Images |
MANILA--In the 1999 PBA Philippine Cup, Ginebra, despite a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals, shocked TNT, then known as Mobiline, on a last-second desperation heave by Bal David.
Fast forward to Saturday night, the Gin Kings have done it again, this time in style.
Ginebra completely overcame TNT's quarterfinal edge in the 2021 Governors' Cup, taking the series with a 115-95 win in the deciding game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Three nights after bludgeoning the Tropang Giga in the endgame to steal Game 1, the Gin Kings took advantage of new import Leon Gilmore's early cramping woes by outscoring the Tropa, 71-45, in the second and the third quarters combined to turn a 25-29 deficit at the end of the first quarter to a 96-74 lead after three periods, and they never looked back from there.
Justin Brownlee fired 29 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, dished seven assists, and made one block for Ginebra, which will face the winner of the other knockout match against Alaska and NLEX in the semifinals beginning Wednesday night.
Japeth Aguilar added 26 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, while LA Tenorio chipped in 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Scottie Thompson came close to a triple-double with 17 markers, 10 markers, and nine dimes alongside two steals.
Mikey Williams led TNT, which missed out on taking the season double, with 17 points, three rebounds, and six assists.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno