Brownlee, Chan dazzle as Ginebra frustrates Rain or Shine in semis opener

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra leaned on the all-around performance Justin Brownlee and the marksmanship of Jeff Chan to dominate Rain or Shine, 102-98, and take Game 1 of their best-of-five semifinal series, Sunday night at the Big Dome.

The Gin Kings’ beloved import flirted with a triple-double with 35 points, 14 boards, and nine dimes, while Chan sizzled for his best performance in a Ginebra uniform tallying 21 points, helping the crowd darlings roll to their eighth victory in the mid-season conference.

Chan caught fire in the payoff period, helping Ginebra erect a 16-point run against the team that he won two PBA titles with. He accounted for seven points.

Import Reggie Johnson buoyed the Painters with 30 markers while James Yap again led the locals in scoring with 15 points, but their scoring—along with Ed Daquioag’s additional 10 points, weren’t enough to match that of the Gin Kings’.

Greg Slaughter, who was filling the void left by a hurt Japeth Aguilar, chimed in 20 points. Joe Devance scattered 12 to contribute in the scoring effort.

Aguilar was reportedly nursing a sore Achilles tendon. 

Ginebra and Rain or Shine figure go at it again on Tuesday at the same venue.

The scores:

Ginebra 102 - Brownlee 35, Chan 21, Slaughter 20, Devance 12, Tenorio 5, Thompson 4, Mercado 3, Aguilar 2, Caperal 0, Mariano 0, Manuel 0, Ferrer 0.

Rain or Shine 89 - Johnson 30, Yap 15, Daquioag 10, Tiu 7, Washington 6, Ponferada 6, Ahanmisi 6, Belga 4, Nambatac 3, Norwood 2, Almazan 0, Borboran 0.

Quarters: 31-17, 52-45, 76-70, 102-89.