BEATEN in a low-scoring affair in their initial meeting, Barangay Ginebra struck back at Rain or Shine with a torrid shooting this time, hacking out a vengeful 124-102 victory to force a logjam on top in the PBA Governors' Cup Group B play at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings threw away an early 15-point lead but recovered in the third period, then there's no more letup on the way to the blowout win that created a tie among Ginebra, San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine at 5-2.
What was expected to be a Friday the 13th thriller turned to be a rout with the Gin Kings pummeling the Elasto Painters, 66-48, in the final half.
Curiously, Justin Brownlee and his teammates were held by the Elasto Painters to merely 64 in a seven-point defeat in their first-round face-off over in Candon, Ilocos Sur on Aug. 24.
Brownlee played with tremendous resolve and gained redemption with a 40-point juggernaut marked by a four-point shot and five three-pointers.
Sponsored content: The Kings unleashed an avalanche from downtown, with Stephen Holt also firing away six treys, RJ Abarrientos four and Scottie Thompson and Maverick Ahanmisi one each.
Rain or Shine made 9-of-30 from beyond the arc as against Ginebra's mind-boggling 17-of-33. And it proved to be the big difference in the game.
Japeth Aguilar came through with 21 points, Holt finished with 21 while Thompson, Abarrientos and Ahanmisi chipped in 17, 14 and 13, respectively, as the Kings raged on, nailing a fourth straight victory.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, suffered a second loss in its last three outings.
The E-Painters did a good job in overhauling a 30-45 deficit as they even surged ahead at 62-58 in the third. But then they conked out and recovered no more.
Sponsored content: Aaron Fuller led the losing side with 28 points plus 11 rebounds. (SB)
The Scores :
GINEBRA 124 - Brownlee 40, J.Aguilar 21, Holt 18, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 14, Ahanmisi 13, Garcia 1, Pinto 0, R.Aguilar 0, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, Go 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 102 - Fuller 28, Clarito 16, Lemetti 15, Nocum 12, Caracut 8, Santillan 6, Villegas 6, Tiongson 5, Mamuyac 4, Norwood 2, Datu.
QUARTERS: 38-30 58-54, 90-79, 124-102
