Brownlee, Abarrientos come up clutch, help Ginebra win PBA Finals opener

Sports

RJ ABARRIENTOS and Justin Brownlee pumped in crucial baskets down the stretch and the Barangay Ginebra Kings escaped with a scrambling 102-100 win over the TNT Tropang 5G in Game 1 of the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, June 3, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Abarrientos and Brownlee saved the Kings from what could have been a major collapse after they squandered an 18-point lead and fell behind late in the game, 90-95.

Fortunately for Ginebra, Abarrientos took over. The wily guard dropped back-to-back four-pointers–the last one shoving the Kings ahead, 100-97, with 20 seconds left.

RR Pogoy kept the defending champions Tropa in the game by burrying a triple that tied the contest at 100-all with 10 seconds left.

Ginebra turned to Brownlee in the game’s final play. As expected, the veteran import delivered.

Defended by TNT import Chris McCullough, Brownlee dribbled from the top of the key, before pulling up for mid-range jumper. The shot kissed off the glass before falling in, giving the Kings a two-point lead with 0.6 ticks left.

The Tropa had the chance to tie it but Calvin Oftana missed an alley-oop attempt at the buzzer, sealing Ginebra’s tight escape.

Abarrientos topped Ginebra with 24 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Brownlee collected 23 pointseight assists and four rebounds.

Troy Rosario added 16 markers and nine rebounds while Scottie Thompson tossed in 15 points, five boards, and six assists.

McCullough spearheaded the Tropa with 25 points while Pogoy and Rey Nambatac pitched in 22 and 19 markers, respectively.

Brandon Ganuelas Rosser and Calvin Oftana each had 12 markers in the loss.

THE SCORES:

GINEBRA (102) – Abarrientos 24, Brownlee 23, Rosario 16, Thompson 15, Cu 9, J.Aguilar 7, Gray 6, Torres2, Holt 0, Pinto 0, Go 0.

TNT (100) – McCullough 25, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 19, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Oftana 12, Heading 5, Khobuntin 5, Castro 0, Aurin 0, Williams 0, Quitevis 0.QUARTERSCORES: 30-25, 57-44, 79-72,102-100.(CCM)