Lastimosa expects Brownlee to play

WITH or without Justin Brownlee, Barangay Ginebra should be ready to bounce back from two straight losses they suffered at the hands of the TNT Tropang Giga.

Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone isn’t sure if the ailing Brownlee will be around in Game 6 of their best-of-seven finals with the Tropang Giga in the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at 5:45 on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

But TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa thinks otherwise.

“I don’t think he’s gonna miss that sixth game or if there’s a seventh game, I think he’s gonna be there. He’s also a warrior so we’re counting everyone to be present on Friday,” said Lastimosa.

With or without the former Best Import awardee, though, the Gin Kings will need to hold their ground, or lose the crown to the Tropang Giga if they don’t.

“Now, it’s twice to beat. So we’re gonna go out and hopefully Justin will be better after being in the hospital, we’ll see,” said Cone.

The Ginebra coach talked about their situation moments after the Tropang Giga prevailed in a closely-fought Game 5 contest, 104-95, on Wednesday night.

Ginebra played without Brownlee, who had to leave the game for good in the early part of the third period following a severe case of food poisoning.

“Hopefully, within 48 hours he can get back and get ready to play,” said Cone.

The Gin Kings felt Brownlee’s absence did them in when they could no longer catch up with the Tropang Giga after Scottie Thompson scored in the last 3:47 as Ginebra threatened to within a point at 95-96.

From there, TNT unleashed a final 8-0 blast to finalize the count off inside plays from JP Erram, Hollis-Jefferson and Jayson Castro.

Cone said Brownlee still decided to play at the start of the game, even if the coaching staff felt they should have sent him to the hospital.

“He had severe food poisoning and he tried to go through the first half and did a pretty good job, but by halftime he

Jojo was out. And you could see it when he started the second half, he just didn’t have anything. He was throwing up at

True enough, the Strikers could get no closer than 74-80 following two free throws by Chito Jaime and another free throw by James Kwekuteye.

Gabby Espinas and Jeramer Cabanag then sealed Caloocan’s third win in four starts with two free throws each, only 35 seconds to go.

Bacoor forced overtime at 64-64 following a triple from deep corner by Kwekuteye and again at 71-71 following a triple by Alwyn Alday.

Sanga ended up with 14 points and 4 rebounds, followed by Espinas with 11 points and 9 rebounds and Reil Cervantes with 11 points. Cabanag contributed 10 points and 7 rebounds.

The Strikers, who suffered their first loss after four victories, got 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals from Kwekuteye, 14 points and 5 rebounds from Alday, 11 points and 7 rebounds from Jammer Jamito and 10 points plus 9 rebounds from Mark Yee.

Earlier, San Juan and Iloilo posted contrasting victories over Sarangani and Oriental Mindoro, respectively.

Wielding sharp form, the San Juan Knights routed the Sarangani Marlins, 103-87, while the Iloilo United Royals rallied from nine points down in the fourth quarter to repulse the Mindoro Disiplinados, 86-79.

Powered by Egie Boy Mojica and AC Soberano, San Juan moved beyond reach at 89-60 to climb to 2-0. Mojica chalked 19 points and 4 rebounds while Soberano poted 15 points and 7 rebounds for the Knights, who are being coached by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in the 29-team tournament.