Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (Ginebra) claimed a twice-to-beat incentive after a hard-fought 109-104 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.
The Kings secured a top-four finish in the single-round-robin eliminations with a 8-2 win-loss record after winning five games in a row. Justin Brownlee led the Kings with 38 points, including 19 in the final quarter, and six assists.
Christian Standhardinger had 23 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, while Jamie Malonzo chipped in 16 points, including a game-clinching dunk. Coach Tim Cone had to utilize only seven players, with Stanley Pringle and Jeremiah Gray playing off the bench.
Coach Cone knew how important the game was, saying “Tonight’s game was absolutely crucial. It was like a championship game for us. We really need to come out and get this.” Meanwhile, Brownlee credited his teammates for the win, saying, “My teammates did a great job of making plays down the stretch, getting stops when we needed them to. I’m just proud of the effort we put out there.”
Despite the loss, Terrafirma showed incredible stand, and the team’s Jordan Williams led the Dyip with 35 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Johnedel Cardel praised his players, saying, “I salute my players, they gave it all. We just fell short in the endgame.”
The game was close, and the outcome was uncertain until the final seconds. Ginebra’s Nards Pinto hit a big three that broke the game’s last deadlock and put the Kings ahead, 105-102, before Brownlee scored on a driving layup to counter a basket by Williams to keep the team afloat, 107-104, with 61 seconds to play. Brownlee came through with two blocks against Williams in the final minute to secure the big win for Ginebra.
The Kings’ win over the Dyip followed Terrafirma’s previous close game against the Magnolia Hotshots, where they lost in overtime, 121-115. The Dyip fought hard against both Magnolia and Ginebra but ultimately fell short in the endgame.
Ginebra will have a chance at the top seeding in the playoffs in their final game versus the league leader TNT Tropang Giga (8-1). With the momentum from their five-game winning streak and their twice-to-beat advantage, the Kings will look to finish the elimination round with a win and secure a favorable path to the championship.
| Team | Score | Top Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| Ginebra | 109 | Brownlee 38, Standhardinger 23, Malonzo 16, Thompson 13, Pinto 9, Gray 7, Pringle 3 |
| Terrafirma | 104 | J. Williams 35, Tiongson 18, Camson 11, Gomez de Liano 8, Calvo 7, Cahilig 7, Mina 7, Daquioag 3, Cabagnot 3, Ramos 3, Gabayni 2, Ferrer 0, Alolino 0 |
| Quarterscores | 26-24; 52-48; 78-79; 109-104 |