Ginebra outlasts Meralco for 1-0 finals edge
Barangay Ginebra Kings took the lead of the best-of-seven series after beating the Meralco Bolts in the game one of PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Quezon Convention Center, Lucena City on Friday.
Justin Bronwlee leading the Kings to snatch the 1st game. Photo from PBA Images.
The defending champions dominated the game with a score of 102-87.
Justin Brownlee carried the load for Ginebra with 32 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists to draw the first blood of its finals rematch against Meralco.
Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio and Kevin Ferrer also contributed and had momentous scores of their own after going coast to coast jam in the finals opener.
At the end of the third quarter, Meralco found their progression, tried to pull through by scoring points, after Mike Tolomia set off a rally.
But Ginebra kept up their winning track and recaptured the lead, finished by back-to-back triples from Brownlee and Ferrer, 96-75, after a 19-4 fourth quarter run.
Allen Durham made an effort for the Bolts finishing with 27 points and 14 rebounds, but were still not enough for them to take the lead in the series.
Game 2 is scheduled on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
SCORES:
Ginebra (102) – Brownlee 32, Aguilar 15, Slaughter 14, Ferrer 11, Tenorio 10, Devance 9, Mercado 7, Caguioa 2, Thompson 2, Aguilar 0, Mariano 0, Taha 0
Meralco (87) – Durham 27, Amer 14, Tolomia 10, De Ocampo 8, Hodge 8, Dillinger 6, Lanete 6, Newsome 6, Hugnatan 2, Caram 0
QUARTERS: 29-18, 49-35, 77-71, 102-87
