Author: Bon Maddagan
Photo Credit: PBA Images
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is finally getting their identity back after routing Rain or Shine on Sep. 13 for their 4th straight win. This victory improved their record to 5-2, forcing a three-way tie with Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beermen for the top spot in Group B.
Resident import Justin Brownlee was the center of the attack, leading the way with 40 big points, 10 rebounds, and a remarkable 5/6 shooting from long range. Five players from Ginebra also scored 13 plus points or more including Stephen Holt who delivered 15 of his points 18 in the fourth.
Despite the loss, Rain or Shine had some bright spots. Aaron Fuller dominated in the interior with a 28-point, 11-rebound explosion. The team’s young core also showed up, with Jhonard Clarito (16), Felix Lemetti (15), and Adrian Nocum (12) all contributing significantly.
Ginebra’s Long-Range Shooting and Early Dominance Led by Brownlee
Ginebra’s shooting was on full display today, hitting 17 out of 33 three-pointers. This was a big improvement from their previous meeting in Candon, where they struggled to score most of the game.
They also started strong, building a 15-point lead early in the second quarter thanks to an Abarrientos three-pointer (45-30). Rain or Shine, however, refused to go down without a fight. They chipped away at the lead, eventually cutting the deficit to just four points at halftime.
The third quarter saw Rain or Shine take control, a Lemetti three-pointer extending their surge to 8-0 and giving them the lead (58-62). The game continued to be a back-and-forth battle until the final minutes of the third quarter when Ginebra stepped up their defense and played at a much faster pace. They went on a 13-2 run to take a 90-79 advantage heading into the fourth. From that point, Ginebra wouldn’t let go of the pedal, extending their lead by as much as 27.
The Scores :
- GINEBRA 124 – Brownlee 40, J.Aguilar 21, Holt 18, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 14, Ahanmisi 13, Garcia 1, Pinto 0, R.Aguilar 0, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, Go 0
- RAIN OR SHINE 102 – Fuller 28, Clarito 16, Lemetti 15, Nocum 12, Caracut 8, Santillan 6, Villegas 6, Tiongson 5, Mamuyac 4, Norwood 2, Datu
- QUARTERS: 38-30 58-54, 90-79, 124-102
