Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar Justin Brownlee. Photo from PBA Images.

MANILA (UPDATED) – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel finally returns to the PBA Finals stage.

The Gin Kings were able to do so after they eliminated the San Miguel Beermen, 102-99, during their Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinals Game 6 bout, Sunday evening at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Mav Ahanmisi led Ginebra in their cardiac victory with 25 points (3/6 3pts), two rebounds, an assist, and a steal, while Justin Brownlee paced the Finals-bound Kings with 21 markers, seven boards, seven dimes, three steals, and two rejections.

Also stellar was Japeth Aguilar who had a 20-point, six-rebound game, and RJ Abarrientos who put up 16 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal, while Scottie Thompson was steady with 10 markers, 14 boards, four assists, one steal, and one block.

"It took every little ounce of whatever we had left to win tonight. It just took a long toll on all of us and them," said Ginebra head tactician Tim Cone. 

"It came down to the last moments, and we were limping to the finish line," he added of their shorthanded lineup as Joe Devance sat due to a left knee injury. 

Only a one-point game, 99-98, with two minutes left in the contest after EJ Anosike's basket, Brownlee was again Ginebra's hero as he hit a triple to extend their lead to four, 102-98.

June Mar Fajardo split his trip to the foul line at the 1:34 mark but was still able to get his team a closer chance to tie the game or take the lead with a four-pointer. Unfortunately, however, that was the nearest that they could get.

Despite Thompson and Abbarientos not hitting their chances to drain the dagger for Ginebra, San Miguel was not able to capitalize on these as Anosike missed his four-pointer and Jericho Cruz also failed to sink his trey in hopes of sending the game to overtime. 

Anosike had a game-high 30 points alongside nine rebounds, Fajardo had a 22-point, 15-rebound game, Marcio Lassiter had 16, and CJ Perez scored 13. Unfortunately, these all went for naught as San Miguel still hasn't beaten Brownlee in a playoff series since the resident Ginebra import started playing in the PBA. 

Brownlee and Ginebra will now rekindle their Season 47 Governors' Cup Finals faceoff against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the TNT Tropang Giga, and Cone is wary of the challenge that they are to face in the Best-of-7 series that will open next week at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

READ: TNT eliminates Rain or Shine to book first Finals spot

"What I do want to say is that, about Coach Chot [Reyes], is that he has done a tremendous job of turning that team into a defensive juggernaut. That reflects the personality of his best player in Rondae, and he's formed the team around Rondae's personality. They've become a very good defensive team," he said. 

"Hats off to that, and I think that's something we're gonna have to really look at when we play them," he added.

Cone was also hopeful that the week-long break could give Devance enough time to recover from his injury.

"[His injury] turned out to be less serious than we thought. But still, he's in a lot of pain. He's going to have to be able to manage that pain when he comes back. Will a week be enough? I'm not sure," he said.

Ginebra's Joe Devance who sat out against San Miguel due to a left knee injury. Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News

"But the bottom line is, he's got a week to recover. Right now, he's still on crutches. He's still got a brace. Can he take that off and be ready to play in a week? Probably doubtful. But maybe sometime in the series, he might come back," said Coach Tim.

Ginebra previously lost in Season 47 in six games against Mikey Williams, RHJ, and former Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa in early 2023. That was Brownlee's first-ever loss in the PBA Finals after going 6-0. 

The Scores: 

Ginebra 102 – Ahanmisi 25, Brownlee 21, J. Aguilar 20, Abarrientos 16, Thompson 10, Cu 7, Holt 3, Mariano 0, Adamos 0.

San Miguel 99 – Anosike 30, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 16, Perez 13, Cruz 8, Trollano 8, Manuel 2, Romeo 0, Ross 0.

Quarterscores: 23-27, 46-49, 76-75, 102-99.