Brownlee dumps career-high 54 points as Gin Kings seize pivotal 3-2 lead over Tropang 5G

MANILA, Philippines -- In the biggest game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals so far, Justin Brownlee proved why he is this conference’s Best Import. 

Brownlee poured in a career-high 54 points to tow Barangay Ginebra to a 3-2 finals lead over the TNT Tropang 5G with a 100-95 overtime victory in Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday. 

In 51 minutes and 29 seconds of play, Brownlee made 22 of his 37 attempts from the field, to go with 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block. 

“I just wanted to come out here and be aggressive for my team. I think we did a great job as a collective group,” Brownlee said after the game. 

“Gotta give a lot of credit to TNT. They came out and played very hard and it was very hard, but I think we just showed that ‘Never Say Die’ attitude tonight,” he added. 

The Gin Kings trailed by seven, 80-87, with 3:55 left in regulation after a pair of free throws by Chris McCullough. 

Brownlee then single-handedly carried Ginebra to the lead with a personal 9-0 run to push them ahead, 89-87, with 1:16 remaining. 

A jumper by RR Pogoy tied things up for TNT, and neither team was able to grab the lead late as the game went to overtime. 

And in overtime, Brownlee continued his onslaught. 

He hit a jumper to break the ice, 91-89, before McCullough hit an and-one to push TNT back ahead, 92-91. 

Brownlee, then, powered through contact for the lead, 94-92, with 2:39 to go. 

A midrange jumper by Rey Nambatac tied things up anew, but a jumper by RJ Abarrientos, followed by a layup by Troy Rosario, made it a four point contest, 98-94, with 1:47 left. 

A split from the line by McCullough inched TNT closer, but an offensive foul by the TNT import proved costly as they tried to mount a comeback. 

A pair of Abarrientos freebies iced the game and set the final score. 

Abarrientos backstopped Brownlee’s explosion with 13 points to go with four assists and two rebounds. Japeth Aguilar added 12 points while Rosario had 10. 

McCullough bannered the Tropang 5G with 38 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal, while Pogoy and Jordan Heading had 23 and 13 markers, respectively. Calvin Oftana, who did not play at all in the overtime period, only had nine points in more than 40 minutes of play. 

Ginebra will try to close out the series and hoist their 16th PBA championship in Game 6 on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at the same venue.