Justin Brownlee unleashed what could be his best game in a Barangay Ginebra San Miguel jersey this season, leading the Gin Kings to another finals’ stint in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
The 6’6” Brownlee, who averages 28.64 points for the conference, scored a season-high 47 points to help power the Kings to a 112-93 smothering of the NLEX Road Warriors in Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinal series in the 2022 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee’s huge game earned praise from coach Tim Cone after Ginebra finished off NLEX with three wins and a loss. The resident Ginebra import has steered the team to the finals for the fifth time.
It was another masterclass performance for Brownlee, eclipsed only by his 50-point outburst in a 127–123 overtime Ginebra win over the Columbian Dyip in the final game of the 2019 PBA Commissioners’ Cup elimination round.
“What a phenomenal, phenomenal performance that was by Justin. I’m amazed. You could see it coming, because of the intensity he had in practice today, before the game. Even at halftime, you’ll know, he’ll have a big performance,” said Cone.
The 33-year-old Brownlee, who also had 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks, scored 18 points of his 26 halftime points in the second quarter as the Gin Kings led 53-50.
Brownlee’s trey with 10:02 left in the third and his partnership with Christian Standhardinger and Jeff Chan led to a nine-point edge, 63-54, by the Kings.
Brownlee, who sank six of 10 treys, had 10 points in the fourth, including a triple in the last two minutes giving the Gin Kings a 15-point spread, 108-93.
The last time the Gin Kings were in the Governors’ Cup finals was back in 2019, when they beat the Meralco Bolts, 4-1, following a 103-05 semifinal triumph in Game 5.
Chan tallied 20 points for the Kings, while LA Tenorio, Nards Pinto and Standhardinger added 14, 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Cameron Clark fired 34 points for the Road Warriors, while Don Trollano and Justin Chua banged in 15 and 10 points, respectively.