ANTIPOLO - Justin Brownlee's brave stand playing with a dislocated right thumb served as a rallying point for Barangay Ginebra in a game it badly needed to avoid falling to a 1-3 hole.
With Brownlee showing his warrior spirit, the fired-up Gin Kings beat TNT, 95-78, to create a 2-2 standoff in the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals Friday night at the Ynares Center here.
A game-time decision following the hand injury that forced him out of the last 18 minutes of their 87-85 Game 3 loss, Brownlee not only reported for action but also played like the old "Playoff Brownlee" and posted 23 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 45:23 minutes.
"I didn't think he's going to play and then what does he do? He gets Player of the Game (honors). Amazing, he's not only a great player but he's such a warrior," Ginebra coach Tim Cone said of their beloved resident import.
"What a warrior he is. To come out and play tonight, I didn't think he had any chance at all to play tonight but he not only played but he played like this," he added.
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Cone shared that the team considered options, including tapping Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame as possible replacement.
"But Justin said I think I can play," said the multititled Cone.
The Gin Kings surrounded Brownlee with outstanding performances to get the job done in this must-win.
Jamie Malonzo banged in a game-high 24, dropping 10 of them in the fourth where Ginebra broke away for good, 23-12, as Japeth Aguilar (18-8), Stephen Holt (12) and Scottie Thompson (9-9) provided extra support.
Calvin Oftana (17) and RR Pogoy (16) took scoring cudgels for TNT as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson shot 14 plus 12 boards hours after winning his third Best Import honors.
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The Scores :
GINEBRA 95 - Malonzo 24, Brownlee 23, J.Aguilar 18, Holt 12, Thompson 9, Ahanmisi 7, Abarrientos 2, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Pinto 0, Rosario 0.
TNT 78 - Oftana 17, Pogoy 16, Hollis-Jefferson 14, Nambatac 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Heruela 0, Ebona 0.
QUARTERS: 31-21, 53-49, 72-66, 95-78
