Ginebra returns to finals, kicks NP out in Game 4
Credit to Author: Josef T. Ramos, TMT| Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:15:14 +0000
BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel contained Northport all throughout on the way to a 120-107 win on Friday and reached the Finals of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee and Stanley Pringle joined forces in the opening half as the Gin Kings built a huge 56‒34 cushion late in the first half and were able to keep the lead until the endgame for their third Governors’ Cup Finals appearance in the last four seasons.
Brownlee scattered 36 points, collared 19 rebounds and dished out eight assists in Game 4 to lead Ginebra’s demolishing of Northport in three straight games after losing the best-of-five semifinals opener (90‒124).
“It is good to be back in the finals again,” said Ginebra grand-slam coach Tim Cone. “It’s been a while for us. It’s about four conferences that we’re getting close there, but we haven’t gotten over the hump, and we talked a lot about that this conference － about going to the finals.”
Ginebra’s last Governors’ Cup Finals appearance was in the 2017 season. This year is Ginebra’s 25th championship appearance.
Japeth Aguilar racked up 20 points along with nine rebounds and seven assists while Stanley Pringle and Scottie Thompson added 18 and 14 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
Ginebra established an 86‒75 cushion at the start of the last frame and maintained it the rest of the way behind LA Tenorio’s 13 out of 19 points total in the payoff period.
Ginebra will be waiting for the semifinals winner between TNT KaTropa and Meralco in the best-of-seven championship round.
No. 8 Northport’s dream run has finally come to an end after upsetting twice-top-seeded Northern Luzon Expressway in the quarterfinals.
Christian Standhardinger led the Batang Pier with 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.
SCORES:
Ginebra, 120 － Brownlee, 36; Aguilar, 20; Tenorio, 19; Pringle, 18; Thompson, 14; Slaughter, 6; Mariano, 4; Chan, 3; and Dillinger, 0
NorthPort, 107－ Standhardinger, 32; Taha, 29; Qualls, 25; Anthony, 18; Lanete, 2; Elorde, 1; Cruz, 0; King, 0; and Escoto, 0
QUARTER SCORES: 32‒21, 56‒39, 86‒75 and 120‒107