Ginebra equalizes vs. SMB behind Brownlee’s hot night

BEST IMPORT. Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee makes a power dunk during Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven series against San Miguel Beer at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday (August 3, 2018), leading his team to win 130-100. Hours before the game, Brownlee was crowned PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Import of the Conference. (PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.)

MANILA — Often times, the player named either the Best Player or the Best Import of the Conference goes on to have a sluggish outing on the night he was formally awarded.

Justin Brownlee, however, proved that the “curse” can be broken.

The newly-crowned PBA Commissioner’s Cup Best Import wreaked havoc on Friday night, leading Ginebra to a 130-100 rout of San Miguel in Game 4 of the conference finals in front of 12,288 people at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Hours after he was formally named the tournament’s best foreigner, Brownlee dropped 37 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks, and two steals without a turnover to lead the Barangay, who started the game on a 17-0 run and never looked back, although the Beermen had some bright moments in the second quarter.

Greg Slaughter backstopped Brownlee with his best performance so far in the best-of-seven series, making 19 markers, eight boards, one dime, three swats, and one steal as Ginebra tied the series at two wins each.

Arwind Santos collected 22 points, three rebounds, and one steal for SMB in a game that Renaldo Balkman and Junemar Fajardo struggled in.

Balkman, who got into an altercation with Joe Devance at halftime, only made 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Fajardo, who was named Best Player of the Conference, only came up with 15 markers, although he also had 14 rebounds, one dime, and three blocks.