Brownlee’s Heroics Help Ginebra Even PBA Finals Series Against TNT

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

For the nth time since assuming the role as Barangay Ginebra’s resident import, Justin Brownlee proved time and again that he can deliver in the most crucial stretch to help his franchise avert disaster and pull off a grueling win.

Brownlee saved the day for the Gin Kings after scoring their last four points and helped Ginebra edge the TNT Tropang Giga, 71-70, in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup grand finals on March 16, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

With the hard-fought victory, the Gin Kings just equalized the PBA Finals series at 1-1, but the process was one of those days where you had to endure a rough and “ugly” back-and-forth against a team that refused to let go.

The Gin Kings were poised to blow the game wide-open after building their largest lead at 15 points, but the Tropang Giga squad smelled blood in the second half and worked hard to get back, turning the affair into a nip-and-tuck battle.

TNT escaped a franchise-low 19-point showing in the first half and flipped the switch in the last two quarters as they outscored Ginebra 26-22 in the third, and 25-17 in the fourth.

From facing a 15-point hole, the Tropang Giga hopefuls suddenly sent loud cheers after RR Pogoy gave them the lead, 67-68, at the fourth-minute mark of the final frame.

Needing someone to rekindle the spark that they had in the first half, the Gin Kings turned to their money man, Brownlee, and the super import didn’t disappoint as he took over the game and put Ginebra on his back.

Indeed, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Not letting the Tropang Giga capitalize on the momentum shift, Brownlee helped Ginebra trim their deficit to just a point when he converted a dipsy doo reverse layup, 69-70.

After a successful defensive stop on the other end against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Ginebra attacked quickly with Brownlee leading the break, and his aggressiveness paid off dividends as TNT was forced to foul him to avoid any easy baskets.

Brownlee canned both of his shots from the charity stripe to officially put the Gin Kings back in the driver’s seat, 71-70. TNT had the chance to tie the game or take the lead in the next possession but another solid defensive stop from Ginebra prevented them from cashing a bucket, forcing Hollis-Jefferson in no-man’s land who got whistled for a shot clock violation.

Just when Ginebra thought they already saw the light at the end of the tunnel, Scottie Thompson gave TNT a chance after dishing out a careless looping pass that got intercepted by Calvin Oftana at the top of the key.

Oftana rushed to the other end in hopes of a breakaway layup but fortunately for Ginebra, RJ Abarrientos and Thompson were quick to get back in defense and poked away the leather.

Seeking to restore order and draw out a potential game-winning play, TNT head coach Chot Reyes called timeout to map out their final execution in the remaining 7.3 seconds.

The Tropang Giga got what they wanted after locating Hollis-Jefferson off the inbound play, but Stephen Holt held his ground defensively, backstopped by Thompson’s on-point double team help that sealed the deal for the Gin Kings.

Brownlee capped off the thrilling Game 2 win with a dominant double-double performance of 35 points and 11 rebounds, while Thompson chipped in 16 markers, 12 boards, and seven assists.

On the other hand, Ginebra’s stifling defense limited Hollis-Jefferson to a dismal 6/23 shooting from the field but he still finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds.

Both teams will only have two days of rest before squaring off for Game 3 of the PBA Finals on March 19, 2025. Will Ginebra pick up where they left off or will TNT exact revenge and take a 2-1 series lead?