Ginebra Returns as PBA Champ as Brownlee Winner Subdues Meralco

All it took was one shot, and eight years of frustration came to an end.

Ginebra finally clinched its first PBA title since 2008 on a game-winning triple from Justin Brownlee at the final buzzer of Game 6 of the Governors’ Cup finals, beating Meralco, 91-88, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night.

Brownlee, with only 5.5 seconds to work on, went for the isolation against Allen Durham and pulled up a long three-pointer against his outstretched arm that swished into the rim as time expired, sending most of the 22,528 people inside the fabled arena and even more people watching the game via a giant screen just outside the venue into frenzy.

The failed block attempt turned out to be the tail-end of Durham’s double whammy that sealed the Bolts’ fate.

Durham received a good feed from Cliff Hodge but missed an open layup with Brownlee getting the rebound before calling the timeout that gave Coach Tim Cone the chance to map out the Brownlee buzzer-beater.

The said trey helped the Barangay complete a comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit and win their ninth title overall. Cone, on the other hand, took home his 19th championship.

Brownlee finished with 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while LA Tenorio, who sparked Ginebra’s pivotal third quarter run that turned the match to a nail-biter, added 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Chris Newsome led Meralco with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Box Scores:

Ginebra 91-Brownlee 31, Tenorio 25, Thompson 10, Aguilar 7, Caguioa 6, Helterbrand 5, Ellis 4, Marcelo 3, Cruz 0, Devance 0, Mercado 0

Meralco 88-Newsome 19, Durham 15, Hugnatan 12, Alapag 8, Faundo 8, Uyloan 7, Amer 6, Hodge 6, Nabong 4, Caram 3

Quarterscores: 18-27, 32-45, 65-66, 91-88 (PNA) JMC/IS/EBP