MANILA, Philippine – In the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, Barangay Ginebra defeated San Miguel Beer 108-102, capping a disappointing season debut for Justin Brownlee with a PBA career-high 51 points.

The champion import’s game-winning layup sealed the victory for Ginebra, which put on a 34-23 fourth-quarter offensive spree under Brownlee’s direction. The Kings overcame a 67-73 setback to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday, traveling to Candon, Ilocos Sur.

The Kings defeated the Beermen in a fierce struggle and handed SMB its first loss in three starts. Japeth Aguilar scored 21 points, while youngster RJ Abarrientos added 13, including 11 in the first half.

The Beermen finished third in Group B, with the NLEX Road Warriors (2-0) and the Elasto Painters (2-0) vying for the lead in a key match on Wednesday at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After putting on a lackluster show in Candon, Brownlee significantly improved with a strong performance that included 13 rebounds, six steals, and five assists.

On Wednesday in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the NLEX Road Warriors and the Elasto Painters—both with a perfect 2-0 record—squared off in a crucial game. There were big stakes in this game because the winner would go to the top of Group B, with the San Miguel Beermen finishing in third.

After putting on a disappointing show in Candon, Justin Brownlee made a spectacular comeback. His 13 rebounds, 6 thefts, and 5 assists demonstrated his leadership and flexibility on the floor. Brownlee’s comeback was particularly noticeable after the break, when he played much better. In addition to his first-half totals of 16 points and 8 rebounds, he scored 19 points in the second half, making two of his three attempted three-pointers in the third quarter.

The Beermen’s offensive firepower, spearheaded by Jeron Teng and Terrence Romeo, was impossible to control even with Brownlee’s outstanding performance. At the end of the third quarter, the Beermen had a slim lead of 79-74 thanks to the strong play of Teng and Romeo in the San Miguel assault. In order for the Beermen to stay in the top half of Group B, their contributions were essential.

It was evident as the game entered the fourth quarter that Brownlee and the Kings were unwilling to give up. The Beermen had a lead, but the Kings were keen to fight it as the payment phase approached. A dramatic finish was ensured by Brownlee’s leadership and the Kings’ perseverance, as both teams fought for supremacy in a fierce Group B matchup.

With 23 points, Jordan Adams led the Beermen, but his scoring output tapered off following a solid first half in which he scored 15 points. Several prominent players contributed in a balanced manner for the Beermen: June Mar Fajardo scored 17 points, CJ Perez scored 14, Terrence Romeo scored 13, and Jeron Teng scored 12.

The two sides were stuck in a stalemate at 24-all at the end of the first quarter and 46-all at halftime of a fiercely contested game. The fiercely contested game brought out both teams’ passion for competition.

Teng scored 12 points and Romeo scored 7 during the third quarter, which was a pivotal time for the Beermen. San Miguel’s offensive efficiency was demonstrated by their remarkable field goal percentage of 66.4%. Ginebra, on the other hand, shot 47.4% from the field and was unable to keep up.

Ginebra launched a potent counteroffensive in the fourth quarter, aiming to fight their way back into the game, despite San Miguel’s dominant third-quarter performance. As Ginebra tried to cut the deficit and threaten the Beermen’s lead, the last quarter set the stage for an exciting finish.

Scores at the end of the match

GINEBRA with 108 for the win

Individual scores: Brownlee 51, J.Aguilar 21, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 7, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 4, Go 4, Tenorio 3, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Garcia 0.

SAN MIGUEL with 102 points

Individual scores: Adams 23, Fajardo 17, Perez 14, Romeo 13, Teng 12, Ross 5, Rosales 4, Trollano 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0.

Scores per quarter

24-24, 46-46, 74-79, 108-102