Brownlee Leads Ginebra to Victory, Series Now Tied 2-2

Justin Brownlee shrugged off a finger injury and powered Barangay Ginebra to a commanding 95-78 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night at Ynares Center in Antipolo City. With the win, the Kings tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2, setting up a crucial Game 5 showdown on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brownlee, who dislocated his finger in Game 3 and required immediate medical attention, made a stunning comeback to ignite Ginebra’s offense. The naturalized Filipino delivered a dominant double-double performance, tallying 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson provided key contributions in the high-stakes matchup.

A Comeback No One Expected

Ginebra head coach Tim Cone admitted that the team initially thought Brownlee’s injury would sideline him for the remainder of the series. They had even considered activating Filipino-Ivorian Ange Kouame as a potential replacement.

“I thought he was out for the series,” Cone revealed. “We were already thinking of our Plan B, even considering Ange Kouame. But then Justin said, ‘I think I can play.’”

Cone praised Brownlee for his grit and resilience, highlighting the veteran import’s unwavering commitment to the team.

“I’ll be absolutely honest—there was no way I thought Justin was going to play today,” Cone added. “But then he said, ‘I can play.’ He’s such a warrior.”

Brownlee credited Ginebra’s medical staff for stabilizing his injured finger, allowing him to take the floor when his team needed him the most.

“As soon as they got the thumb stable, I knew I could play,” Brownlee said. “I just wanted to keep playing like before. Yesterday and before the game, I got a good feel for it.”

Ginebra's Fourth-Quarter Surge

After a tightly contested first three quarters, Ginebra exploded in the final period. Maverick Ahanmisi drilled a clutch jumper with 2:29 remaining to cap an 11-0 run, pushing the Kings ahead 89-76.

TNT’s Rey Nambatac, who delivered the game-winning three-pointer in Game 3, attempted to spark a late comeback with a mid-range jumper that cut the deficit to 78-89 with 2:10 left. However, Ahanmisi and Malonzo responded with back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute, sealing the victory for Ginebra.

Malonzo spearheaded Ginebra’s charge with a scorching 24-point performance on 8-of-11 shooting, while Aguilar added 18 points and eight rebounds.

On the other side, TNT struggled to find consistent scoring. Calvin Oftana led the Tropang Giga with 17 points and five rebounds, while Roger Pogoy contributed 16 points.

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who was crowned Best Import just before tipoff, endured a rough shooting night, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds on a disappointing 5-of-18 clip.

With momentum now swinging in Ginebra’s favor, all eyes turn to Game 5, where both teams will battle to gain the upper hand in the championship series.

source: https://tribune.net.ph/2025/03/21/brownlee-delivers-as-ginebra-ties-series-at-2-2