AFTER an unfortunate miscue in the last game, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made sure this time around that it will never happen again and derail its date with destiny.
Led by another virtuoso performance from explosive resident import Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings are back to the PBA Governors Cup Finals.
The sixth-seeded Gin Kings masterfully manhandled the second-seeded NLEX Road Warriors, 112-93, in Game 4 of their best-of-5 semifinals series, Wednesday afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brownlee was his usual self, a virtually unstoppable scoring, rebounding and assisting machine, who lifted his team with another double-double effort by scoring 47 points and collecting 10 boards to win the series, 3-1.
He complemented his all-around showmanship with six dimes, three steals and three blocks, and converted 6-of-10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Veteran Jeff Chan flashed his old form with 20 points, while Nards Pinto again provided ample back up off the bench with 12 markers, while Game 3 goat LA Tenorio supported his team’s winning cause with 14 points.
Terribly missed was Scottie Thompson, who only managed four markers but still came up with a modest 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
This will be the crowd favorite Gin Kings’ fourth trip to the Governors’ Cup finals, a crown they won the last three times at the expense of the Meralco Bolts, who is also leading its own series with quarterfinals topnotcher Magnolia Hotshots.
NLEX import Cameron Clark also had his own double-double with 34 points and 12 rebounds, backstopped by Don Trollano’s 15 points and Justin Chua’s 10 for the losing semifinalists.
So, will it be Ginebra-Meralco 4.0 or Manila Clasico – New Normal edition for the best-of-7 finals? Take your pick!