By REYNALD MAGALLON
Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos took turns in torching Converge as Barangay Ginebra got back on the winning track with a 99-93 victory in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 29.
The lethal combination connived for 65 points with Brownlee scoring the last four points to help the Kings create the much-needed separation against the struggling and depleted FiberXers.
Brownlee finished with 33 points to go with 10 rebounds — none bigger than the floater he nailed over the outstretched arms of Converge seven-foot import Kylor Kelly to give Ginebra a 97-93 cushion.
The Kings then held on to their defense and forced Converge to a pair of well-challenged four-pointers to bounce back from the first loss they absorbed at the hands of Rain or Shine.
Abarrientos also exploded for 32 built on four triples while Troy Rosario was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 to go with 13 rebounds – nine of which came at the offensive end.
Though no team was actually able to establish a sizeable margin, the Kings actually trailed for most of the contest but things began to take a turn in the third frame where they fired 39 points.
Meantime, Meralco quickly picked up the pieces from its first taste of defeat and took down Titan Ultra, 118-105.
There was no power shortage for the Bolts this time as CJ Cansino and Marvin Jones sparked the breakaway that saw their team lead by as many as 28 points en route to their third win in four games.
Cansino showed the way with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists while Jones had 24 points and 14 rebounds. Bong Quinto and Jason Brickman provided support with 15 and 13 while Javee Mocon added 11.
