To finish Barangay Ginebra’s return from 18 points down against San Miguel, 87-85, and a clean of their 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series, Christian Standhardinger scored on a quick stab off a Justin Brownlee assist.

Game 3 of Ginebra vs. San Miguel recap

As Brownlee drove to the hoop and drew a double team, leaving the front-runner for Best Player of the Conference wide-open inside for the shot that snapped an 85-85 tie with four seconds remaining, Standhardinger was there to finish the play.

For the first time in franchise history, Ginebra advanced to the finals through sweep of a best-of-five series thanks to the game-winning play in front of jubilant fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, keeping its title-retention effort on course.

San Miguel experienced the humiliation of being swept in a best-of-five series for the first time in the long, illustrious history of the team when Marcio Lassiter missed the game-tying basket on the game’s final play.

In the championship game, The Gins will take either Meralco or TNT.

For the Gin Kings, who also received a significant boost from Jeremiah Gray, Brownlee recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Standhardinger contributed 14 points and 17 rebounds.

With 1:57 remaining, the rookie gunner’s three-pointer gave Ginebra the lead, 83-82, with 13 points total. Moreover, Gray made a three to kick off his team’s 24-9 last lick and erase a 76-63 SMB deficit.

After Gray’s three, Ginebra increased their advantage to three, but Lassiter knotted the game with a triple of his own with 26.2 seconds left, making the score 85-85.

Tim Cone, the coach of Barangay Ginebra, praised his team’s tenacity in pulling off the sweep, calling it an “impossible” task given San Miguel’s depth.

Cone claimed that the players would not give up. It was NSD at its best, if he may borrow from Coach Sonny. Cone focused on their eyes. He was observing their body language to determine whether they were prepared to give up. Cone, though, just never noticed the proof.

In the loss in Game Three, San Miguel blew a 62-44 lead. For the Beermen, Cameron Clark ended with 16 points and 10 recovers, and CJ Perez extra 14 further points.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 87 – Brownlee 22, Thompson 17, Standhardinger 14, Gray 13, Malonzo 12, Pinto 4, Pessumal 3, Pringle 0, Mariano 2 

San Miguel 85 – Clark 16, Perez 14, Lassiter 13, Cruz 12, Enciso 11, Herndon 6, Tautuaa 6, Ross 5, Manuel 2.