Ginebra begins late dash to QF bonus by pipping struggling Blackwater

Justin Brownlee became the first PBA import to make 300 career steals. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Ginebra kept its hopes of clinching a Top 2 finish in the PBA Commissioner's Cup eliminations by beating Blackwater, 98-84, on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Gin Kings obliterated the Bossing in the third quarter, outscoring them, 23-11, to pull away for good.

Justin Brownlee led Ginebra, which moved up to 6-2, 1.5 games behind Magnolia for first place and a game behind Bay Area and Converge for the second and third places, with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and four steals.

His first steal of the game, in which he picked Gab Banal's pass with 9:20 remaining in the third quarter, made him the first import ever to tally 300 steals.

Fresh from his impressive stint for Gilas Pilipinas in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in the Middle East, Scottie Thompson added 16 points on 7-for-9 field goals, eight rebounds, six assists, and one steal.

The top two teams after the elimination round will earn a once-to-win advantage in the quarterfinals.

Ato Ular put up 20 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, Trevis Jackson added 14 points, one rebound, and one assist, and Cam Krutwig had 11 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and three steals for Blackwater, which was sent to the brink of elimination after falling to 3-8, losing five straight games.

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