With or without Justin Brownlee, Barangay Ginebra should be ready to bounce back from two straight losses they suffered at the hands of the TNT Tropang Giga.
Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone isn’t sure if the ailing Brownlee will be around in Game 6 of their best-of-seven finals with the Tropang Giga in the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at 5:45 on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
But TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa thinks otherwise.
“I don’t think he’s gonna miss that sixth game or if there’s a seventh game, I think he’s gonna be there. He’s also a warrior so we’re counting everyone to be present on Friday,” said Lastimosa.
With or without the former Best Import awardee, though, the Gin Kings will need to hold their ground, or lose the crown to the Tropang Giga if they don’t.
“Now, it’s twice to beat. So we’re gonna go out and hopefully Justin will be better after being in the hospital, we’ll see,” said Cone.
The Ginebra coach talked about their situation moments after the Tropang Giga prevailed in a closely-fought Game 5 contest, 104-95, on Wednesday night.
Ginebra played without Brownlee, who had to leave the game for good in the early part of the third period following a severe case of food poisoning.
“Hopefully, within 48 hours he can get back and get ready to play,” said Cone.
The Gin Kings felt Brownlee’s absence did them in when they could no longer catch up with the Tropang Giga after Scottie Thompson scored in the last 3:47 as Ginebra threatened to within a point at 95-96.
From there, TNT unleashed a final 8-0 blast to finalize the count off inside plays from JP Erram, Hollis-Jefferson and Jayson Castro.
Cone said Brownlee still decided to play at the start of the game, even if the coaching staff felt they should have sent him to the hospital.
“He had severe food poisoning and he tried to go through the first half and did a pretty good job, but by halftime he was out. And you could see it when he started the second half, he just didn’t have anything. He was throwing up at halftime and he was throwing up on the bench when we took him out,” added Cone. Peter Atencio
With Tropang Giga leading the series, 3-2, Lastimosa is upbeat that they can take Game 6.
“You have to understand that coming in here, we have nothing to lose. These guys are just playing. And if we’re given an opportunity to grab it and then beat them, we will. But they’re still the favorites. Even if we’re up 3-2, we’re not the favorites. And we know how hard it takes to win over them,” said Lastimosa.