Game 5 krusyal sa Ginebra at TNT

MANILA, Philippines — Sabi nga ni Barangay Gi­nebra coach Tim Cone, ka­pag inalis mo ang benda sa kanang kamay ni resident import Justine Brownlee ay lalaylay ang kanyang hinlalaki.

Nagkaroon si Brownlee ng dislocated right thumb sa gitna ng third period sa kabiguan ng Gin Kings sa TNT Tropang Giga sa Game Three.

Hindi natapos ng three-time PBA Best Import ang laro at isinugod sa ospital.

Hindi inasahan ni Cone na makakalaro si Brownlee sa 95-78 pagresbak ng Gi­nebra sa TNT sa Game Four para itabla sa 2-2 ang Season 49 PBA Commis­sio­ner’s Cup Finals noong Bi­yernes sa Antipolo City.

“You know, I just try to go through the game, and luckily had the support from the team, the whole coa­ching staff and everybody,” ani Brownlee. “I just wanted to go out there and just be there for the team and try to get a win.”

Humakot ang 36-anyos na naturalized player ng 23 points, 12 rebounds at 5 assists sa nasabing laro.

Pag-aagawan ng Gin Kings at Tropang Giga ang krusyal na 3-2 lead sa kanilang best-of-seven championship series sa Game Five ngayong alas-7:30 ng gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We’ll see. It’s going to be all about how he feels. He knows his body better than anybody,” sabi ni Cone kay ‘Kabayang Justin’.

Tinulungan ni Jamie Ma­­­lonzo si Brownlee sa pag­­kamada ng game-high 24 points kasama ang 10 sa fourth quarter kung saan nakalayo ang Ginebra sa TNT mula sa 78-76 abante.

“He’s playing through a lot of injuries. He’s given us, the team, his all. So, of course, it’s on us to help Justin as much as possi­ble,” wika ni Malonzo kay Brownlee.

Muling susuporta kay Brownlee sina Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar at Ste­phen Holt katapat sina import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Of­ta­na, Roger Po­goy at Rey Nam­batac ng TNT.