Meralco stuns Ginebra in Brownlee return

And that was proven on Friday night when the Bolts spoiled Brownlee’s comeback with Barangay Ginebra through a 93-82 rout in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. (Photo: PBA/Facebook)

MANILA — If there’s one team that knows Justin Brownlee too much, that would be Meralco.

And that was proven on Friday night when the Bolts spoiled Brownlee’s comeback with Barangay Ginebra through a 93-82 rout in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

With emotions running high as if it was the Governors’ Cup Finals all over again, it was Meralco that prevailed as the team went blistering in the first quarter before shutting down Ginebra in the third en route to the blowout.

Arinze Onuaku led the Bolts with 24 points, 23 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals, while Chris Newsome added 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block.

In a rare start, Anjo Caram contributed 12 markers on 6-of-9 shooting with seven assists, one rebound, one steal, and one block.

Brownlee tallied a triple-double in his return, making 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists with one block, but he only made 9-of-24 field goals, missing all of his seven three-point attempts.

The scores:

Meralco 93: Onuaku 24, Newsome 22, Dillinger 13, Caram 12, Amer 10, de Ocampo 5, Hodge 4, Lanete 3, Canaleta 0, Hugnatan 0.

Ginebra 82: Brownlee 20, Aguilar 13, Thompson 12, Slaughter 8, Mercado 7, Tenorio 6, Devance 6, Caguioa 5, Caperal 5, Cruz 0.

Quarters: 28-22, 48-42, 73-58, 93-82.