Justin Brownlee exploded for a new career-high to power Barangay Ginebra to a thrilling 108-102 win over the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday, August 27, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra’s resident import torched the Beermen for a stunning 51 points, on top of 13 rebounds, six steals and five assists, as the Gin Kings notched their first win of the conference.

Thanks in large part to Brownlee, the Gin Kings improved to 1-1 in Group B of the conference, while the Beermen absorbed their first loss after winning their first two assignments.

“Guys just came out and played. They kept their poise, they came down and got good shots. They found Justin and I think that’s really key,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said of their performance.

The Gin Kings needed every point that Brownlee produced, as the game was knotted at 46 at the half with their import having gotten off to a slow start.

But Brownlee fired 19 points in the third quarter alone, and though San Miguel led 79-74 at the end of the frame, it was clear that the Ginebra reinforcement had gotten his rhythm.

In a back-and-forth final quarter, Brownlee went toe-to-toe with San Miguel big man June Mar Fajardo in a bid to seize control of the contest. A layup by Fajardo followed by another bucket from their import Jordan Adams tied the game at 102 with 2:40 to play.

Japeth Aguilar put Ginebra ahead for good with a jump shot on their next possession, and Ginebra’s defense forced San Miguel into a 24-second violation on their next trip down. Brownlee then assisted on an Aguilar layup with 1:21 left for a 106-102 lead.

The Beermen thought they had gotten a stop when Brownlee misfired on a triple with under a minute to go, but Scottie Thompson swiped the ball from Fajardo — a sequence that eventually led to a Brownlee bucket and a two-possession Ginebra lead.

“You find ways to pull out a victory [against San Miguel] because they’re really tough,” said Cone.

Aguilar went 8-of-10 from the field for 21 points, and rookie RJ Abarrientos had 13 points to offset his five turnovers for the Gin Kings.

Adams led San Miguel with 23 points and Fajardo put up a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double. They had no answers for Brownlee down the stretch. However, with the import firing 16 points in the final quarter to ensure that the Gin Kings went home with the win. (ABS-CBN News)

GINEBRA 108 — Brownlee 51, J. Aguilar 21, Abarrientos 13, Thompson 7, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 4, Go 4, Tenorio 3, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Garcia 0.

SAN MIGUEL 102 — Adams 23, Fajardo 17, Perez 14, Romeo 13, Teng 12, Ross 5, Rosales 4, Trollano 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2, Lassiter 0.

Quarterscores: 24-24, 46-46, 74-79, 108-102.