After winning individual awards, Scottie Thompson, Justin Brownlee wax hot as Ginebra ties finals

Scottie Thompson was on fire right after he was named Best Player of the Conference. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--At least in recent memory, those who go on to win the individual awards whose teams are in the finals for a particular PBA conference would struggle in the game they receive the awards.

But on Wednesday night, Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee took exception to that.

Thompson, the newly-crowned Best Player of the Conference, and Brownlee, who finally won a PBA Governors' Cup Best Import award, caught fire on the night they were hailed, lifting Ginebra to a 95-84 win over Meralco in Game 4 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Thompson and Brownlee proved that they deserved to win their awards, each scoring 27 points to lead the Gin Kings, who broke away in the third after outscoring the Bolts, 27-13.

Meralco still tried to come back into the game, cutting the lead down to seven, 85-78, but Thompson doused cold water on the late rally with his dagger three with 2:10 left that brought the lead back to double digits.

Brownlee added 18 rebounds for the double-double alongside seven assists, three steals, and two blocks for Ginebra, which tied their best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Tony Bishop led Meralco with 25 markers, eight boards, three dimes, and two steals.

The PBA will take the Good Friday off and will return on Easter night for Game 5 with Game 6 next Wednesday, both at "The Big Dome".

Game 7, if necessary, is on April 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno