Author: Martin Dale D. Bolima
Photo Credit: PBA
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Miguel Beermen picked up from where they left off in Game 2, going toe to toe in Sunday’s Game 3, this time at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.
Ginebra came out on top in the end, making just enough big shots and getting just enough defensive stops to outlast San Miguel, 99-94, to move ahead, 2-1, in their best-of-seven semis series.
The crowd darlings actually got off to a fiery start in Game 3 with Justin Brownlee attacking the paint relentlessly and Japeth Aguilar finding his spots down low to help Ginebra to a 54-45 halftime lead.
Brownlee, Ginebra Hold Off San Miguel in Second Half
But, like in Game 2, San Miguel owned the third, uncorking a 12-4 run right after intermission to take a 60-58 lead. The Beermen built as much as a seven-point lead behind EJ Anosike before Ginebra crawled ahead to end the third thanks to some Brownlee freebies and timely trey balls from Maverick Ahanmisi.
Ginebra extended that lead in the fourth with some stellar two-way play from RJ Abarrientos. San Miguel, though, would keep fighting back and got to within three points, 97-94, after a Marcio Lassiter four-point conversion with 26 ticks left.
However, Ahanmisi would ice the game for Ginebra, sinking two from the charity stripe for the final score.
Brownlee led the charge for Ginebra with 30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks despite not making a single long ball and shooting just 12-for-26 overall. Aguilar continued his stellar play for the Barangay with 22 points and 8 rebounds while helping hold down eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo to only 12 points on eight shots and 14 rebounds. Anosike carried the fight for San Miguel, finishing with 32 points and 10 boards.
Game 3 will be on Wednesday, October 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
- GINEBRA 99 – Brownlee 30, J.Aguilar 22, Ahanmisi 15, Holt 11, Abarrientos 8, Thompson 8, Cu 5,
- SAN MIGUEL 94 – Anosike 32, Perez 13, Fajardo 12, Lassiter 12, Cruz 9, Romeo 8, Trollano 3, Ross 3, Tautuaa 2
