PBA: Ginebra once again shatters San Miguel’s Grand Slam dreams

By Jonas Terrado

Barangay Ginebra once again ended San Miguel Beer’s Grand Slam dreams after carving out a 100-97 win in a pulsating quarterfinal duel Sunday to reach the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Justin Brownlee and Stanley Pringle made crucial plays in the final minutes even as Ginebra benefited from San Miguel’s miscues down the stretch to escape with a victory that put them in a semis showdown with either NLEX or NorthPort.

Brownlee sizzled for 41 points while Pringle tallied 24 for Ginebra, which battled SMB to a seesaw affair before getting the necessary breaks in the end.

Brownlee’s three put Ginebra ahead for good at 96-95 before Pringle stole the ball from Chris Ross to score an uncontested layup to make it a three-point game entering the final two minutes.

Import John Holland almost got an opportunity to tie the score with 57.3 seconds left when he got fouled by Joe Devance on the break. Japeth Aguilar blocked the attempt after the ball hit the board, prompting coach Leo Austria to demand for a goaltending call.

But referees determined that there was no indication of a goaltending, much to the Beermen’s dismay. Holland settled for two foul shots to cut the deficit to a single point, 98-97.

Holland did had a chance to put SMB in front when he went for a fastbreak against all five defenders. But the Beermen import lost the ball as he was about to attempt a layup.

Pringle drained two charities for another three-point lead before Brownlee blocked Terrence Romeo’s three-point attempt and Ross missed a long-range three as the clock was winding down.

“What a relief that is,” said two-time Grand Slam winning coach Tim Cone, who requested the media for a minute breather upon entering the press room.

By finishing San Miguel off, Cone can set aside his Ginebra duties for at least two weeks and concentrate on Gilas’ campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“I feel like an air traffic controller at this point. Got a couple of planes circling up, going around and if I try to land them both at the same time, they’re gonna crash so I gotta really focus on landing one and going out to try to land another, “ said Cone.

Ginebra and Cone spoiled SMB’s Grand Slam quest for the second time in three years.

The Beermen were in a position to complete the trifecta in 2017, only to lose to the Kings in the Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.

June Mar Fajardo finished with 24 points and 18 rebounds in the final game of SMB’s campaign marred by a fight that resulted in the indefinite suspensions of Arwind Santos, Kelly Nabong and Ronald Tubid and the axing of import Dez Wells.

Holland, who replaced Wells after suffering an ankle injury, had 20 points and eight rebounds.

The scores:

GINEBRA 100 — Brownlee 41, Pringle 24, Tenorio 12, Chan 6, Aguilar 6, Slaughter 5, Thompson 4, Dela Cruz 2, Devance 0.

SAN MIGUEL 97 — Fajardo 24, Holland 20, Tautuaa 12, Cabagnot 11, Lassiter 10, Romeo 8, Ross 7, Pessumal 3, Rosser 0.

Quarters: 23-23; 54-58; 78-83; 100-97.

Source: Manila Bulletin