By Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — Justin Brownlee nailed a miracle three-pointer from way, way out at the buzzer to lift the Barangay Ginebra Kings to a classic 91-88 Game 6 victory over the Meralco Bolts Wednesday night, giving the Ginebra franchise its first championship in eight years.
That three-pointer fired with 5.5 seconds left, with the score tied at 88-all, capped a 10-point Brownlee explosion in the endgame that sealed the best-of-seven PBA Governors’ Cup finals series at 4-2 for the Kings.
The crowd of more than 22,000 mostly pro-Ginebra fans inside the Smart-Araneta Coliseum erupted with a deafening roar after Brownlee nailed the first three-pointer fired at the buzzer that won a PBA championship since 2001.
Brownlee finished with a game-high 31 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
LA Tenorio also played a major role in the drama-filled Ginebra victory, posting 25 points, six assists, and five boards. He was named Press Corps-Cignal Finals MVP after averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 boards in the series.
The Kings achieved victory after being down by as much as 15 points in the first half as the Bolts started the game firing on all cylinders.
The Kings gained a huge morale boost when Robert Jaworski, the legendary former Ginebra playing coach, came into the team’s dugout at halftime to try and inspire the team known for its never-say-die spirit.
The Kings responded with a scorching 25-9 run in the third quarter that tied the game at 62-all. Twelve of their points came from Tenorio who nearly single-handedly brought the Kings back.
Ginebra took the lead for the first time on a Scottie Thompson free throw, 65-64, but the Bolts quickly regained the lead, 66-65, as the quarter ended. Thompson finished with 10 points.
The two teams exchanged booming baskets in the fourth, with neither team blinking.
Brownlee drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 84-all, then followed it up with a stepback jumper from midrange that gave Ginebra an 86-84 lead with 2:20 left in the game.
Meralco’s Jimmy Alapag then made two free throws to knot the count again at 86-all. The Bolts regained the lead on two free throws by Cliff Hodge.
Once again Brownlee hit a driving jumper to level the score anew with 27 ticks left.
Meralco had the chance to go for the win, but import Allen Durham missed a sorry layup, leading to Brownlee’s game winner at the buzzer.
