Barangay Ginebra San Miguel bounced back in style as they routed the TNT KaTropa, 125-101, in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals on Thursday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee scored 31 points alongside 11 rebounds, three steals and four blocks to lead Ginebra, which is currently down 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
Scottie Thompson posted 17 points, five rebounds and four assists while Japeth Aguilar added 15 points, four boards and three blocks in what was an elimination game for the Kings.
TNT was led by RR Garcia, who scored 16 points from off the KaTropa bench.
Ginebra shrugged off its offensive struggles from the previous game, tallying 61 points in a dominant first half.
They went on a huge 19-0 run in the second period that gave them a cushy 20-point lead, 53-33.
TNT, led by Garcia, countered with a rally of its own but still trailed by double-digits, 61-47, after the first two periods.
Brownlee had 17 points while Aguilar chipped in with 11 in the first half.
TNT import Joshua Smith exited the game before halftime after complaining of foot pain because of his shoe. He was unable to return to the game, finishing with just four points and seven rebounds in under 10 minutes of action.
The Kings then put the game away after opening the third quarter 11-2 run that pushed the lead up to 23 points.
TNT coach Nash Racela pulled out several of his regulars like Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy and Ranidel De Ocampo amidst that run and kept them out the rest of the way.
Ginebra capitalized by pushing their lead to as high as 32 points in the fourth quarter, cruising the rest of the way.
