Show of fours
Justin Brownlee’s fiery shooting from the four-point line that propelled Barangay Ginebra to a lopsided win over San Miguel Beer in the opener of their best-of-seven PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series certainly excites coach Tim Cone.
“When he practices the two-point shot, he’s like, ‘ehhh.’ When he practices threes, he gets a little bit excited,” a euphoric Cone said. “But when he practices fours, grabe! This guy likes bang, bang, bang, bang, bang! He really loves that four-point shot.”
Brownlee shot five quadruples, including three in the third quarter, that helped set up Ginebra’s 122-105 win on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City and may set the tone in the series with its sister team from San Miguel Corporation.
He finished with 33 points after also draining three triples to highlight a stirring outing by a well-rested Ginebra side that was nine days removed from a three-game quarterfinal sweep of Meralco.
“Since the four-point line’s been introduced in the PBA, it’s something that teams in this league have taken advantage of,” Brownlee said. “Me, myself and us at Ginebra, we practice those shots. So we’re just trying to get better and better and be more comfortable taking them at the game.”
Ginebra turned a five-point halftime lead into a double-digit rout that enabled the crowd-favorite side to finally shake off the disappointment of a 49-point loss to San Miguel in the second round of the group stage.
TNT triumphs
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also buried a dagger four-pointer in the second game, finishing with 33 points as TNT took Game 1 of their semifinal series against Rain or Shine, 90-81, in the second game.
While thrilled with another vintage Brownlee performance, Cone, at least publicly, is not changing his opinion on the much-discussed 27-foot arc that had its share of critics and believers.
“Just because it favors our team with Justin, that doesn’t mean I’m [now] a fan of the four-point shot,” Cone said. “I just believe that the game has evolved into shooting—taking quick shots, taking four-pointers. [I]f you watch practices … all they do is shoot threes and shoot fours, and I think the game is a lot more than that.
“And I think we’re kind of just evolving into that idea that we’re just gonna be a three- or a four-point shooting game. There’s so much more in the game. There’s cutting, screening, there’s the defensive side, the ability to pass. Those things are a really big part of the game as well.”
“But I think with the four-point shot, and just my personal opinion, I think we’re putting the pressure on young kids to come out and just shoot, learn to shoot, and that’s good enough. And I think the game is more than that. So that’s why I don’t agree with it,” added Cone.
It was not just Brownlee who starred in the Gin Kings’ win, as last season’s Rookie of the Year Stephen Holt posted 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
