The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings drew first blood against the Meralco Bolts, 99-92, in their 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on Thursday, September 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“We came out on top but, basically, we just made more plays. He [Justin Brownlee] made more plays down the stretch. And that was the key,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone in the postgame press conference.

“It could have gone either way,” Cone added.

Leading by only one in the last canto, 84-83, the Gin Kings orchestrated an 11-2 run, sparked by a Japeth Aguilar dunk, with baskets from Justin Brownlee in between, and capped by an RJ Abarrientos trey for a 10-point, 95-85 separation with less than three minutes left in regulation.

The Bolts would still close by five, 97-92, as Allen Durham capitalized on a Ginebra turnover with 27 ticks, but Brownlee drained the closing freebies to make it a seven-point game, which turned out to be the final score.

Brownlee fired 29 points at an efficient 10-of-19 clip, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished seven assists, while former PBA MVP Scottie Thompson chipped in 19 markers.

Meanwhile, PBA Press Corps’ Defensive Player of the Year awardee Cliff Hodge had 23 points for the losing side. (ABS-CBN News)

GINEBRA 99 — Brownlee 29, Thompson 19, Holt 14, J. Aguilar 10, Cu 9, Abarrientos 8, Ahanmisi 8, Devance 2, R. Aguilar 0.

MERALCO 92 — Hodge 23, Newsome 20, Durham 17, Banchero 11, Quinto 10, Caram 6, Almazan 5, Rios 0, Mendoza 0, Bates 0, Cansino 0, Jose 0.

Quarterscores: 28-24, 53-43, 73-71, 99-92.