MANILA – Justin Brownlee turned in a legendary performance on Friday night, scoring 54 points to carry Barangay Ginebra past TNT, 100–95 in overtime, and move the Gin Kings ahead 3–2 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The outburst marked the highest scoring output in a finals game in 32 years, matching the record set by Tony Harris of Swift, who also scored 54 against Alaska in the 1994 Governors’ Cup Finals.
At 38 years old, Brownlee showed no signs of slowing down, scoring 35 of his points after halftime as Ginebra erased an 11-point deficit and forced overtime in front of 18,039 fans.
He completed a dominant all-around stat line of 54 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block, anchoring the Gin Kings when it mattered most.
RJ Abarrientos added 13 points along with four assists as Ginebra edged closer to the championship, with a potential title-clinching Game 6 set on Sunday. If necessary, a winner-take-all Game 7 will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
TNT leaned on Chris McCullough, who finished with 38 points and 16 rebounds, while RR Pogoy contributed 23 points in the losing effort.
FINAL SCORE SUMMARY:
Ginebra 100 – Brownlee 54, Abarrientos 13, Aguilar 12, Rosario 10, Thompson 6, others 0
TNT 95 – McCullough 38, Pogoy 23, Heading 13, Oftana 9, Castro 6, others 0
ia/xf
