Ginebra clinches Finals spot after nail-biting win over San Miguel

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is back in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals after a heart-pounding 102-99 victory over the San Miguel Beermen in Game 6 of their semifinal series on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

In a high-stakes battle that went down to the wire, Justin Brownlee came through in the clutch once again, nailing a crucial three-pointer with two minutes left to lift Ginebra to victory and secure their place in the championship round. Brownlee finished with 21 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter, along with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

Maverick Ahanmisi led the Gin Kings in scoring with 25 points, shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Japeth Aguilar contributed 20 points and 6 rebounds. Rookie RJ Abarrientos continued his impressive debut season, posting 16 points and 6 assists, while Scottie Thompson was a steady force with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The game was a tightly contested affair, with Ginebra holding a slim 99-98 lead with two minutes remaining after San Miguel import EJ Anosike scored on a contested layup. But Brownlee’s cold-blooded triple extended the Gin Kings’ lead to four, 102-98, giving them just enough breathing room to hold off a furious San Miguel comeback attempt.

June Mar Fajardo split a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to three, 102-99, with 1:34 left, but the Beermen couldn’t capitalize on Ginebra’s missed opportunities. Anosike, who had a game-high 30 points and 9 rebounds, missed a potential game-tying shot from deep, and Jericho Cruz’s last-second three-pointer to send the game into overtime also fell short.

The win allowed Ginebra to close out the best-of-seven series, 4-2, and book a Finals rematch with TNT Tropang Giga, who advanced to the championship after dispatching Rain or Shine in their own semifinal clash.

WATCH: Ginebra vs. San Miguel (October 20) Game 6 Highlights

For San Miguel, the loss wasted strong performances from Fajardo, who posted 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Marcio Lassiter, who added 16 points. CJ Perez chipped in 13 points, but the Beermen could not overcome Ginebra’s balanced attack and timely defense.

With the victory, Barangay Ginebra will have their hands full as they prepare for a showdown with TNT and their import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in what promises to be a thrilling championship series set to begin on October 27 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.