Ginebra advance to finals as they defeat the SMB | PBA Finals 2023
On Wednesday, March 29, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Ginebra defeated their sister club, San Miguel Beermen, 87-85 in Game 3 of their best-of-5 semifinal series in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup. The game was full of exciting moments, last-second shots, and heart-stopping plays that kept the crowd on the tip of their seats until the final bell.
Justin Brownlee, an import from Barangay Ginebra, led the squad with 22 points, while Scottie Thompson scored 17 and Christian Standhardinger added 14. Jordan Clarkson, who recently joined the club, scored 13 points, while Rey Mark Malonzo added 12 points. Meanwhile, Chris Clark of San Miguel scored 16 points, CJ Perez scored 14 points, and Marcio Lassiter scored 13 points.
The first quarter was a tight struggle, with San Miguel holding a one-point advantage, 17-16. But San Miguel went on a scoring rampage in the second quarter and pulled away, outscoring Barangay Ginebra 33-22 to close the first half with a 12-point advantage, 50-38.
San Miguel maintained their domination in the third quarter, expanding their advantage to 16 points, 70-58, heading into the fourth quarter. Barangay Ginebra, on the other hand, did not give up and came out with a fresh feeling of resolve, outscoring San Miguel 29-15 in the last quarter to win by two points, 87-85.
The victory over San Miguel was a crucial milestone for Barangay Ginebra as they pursue their first Governors’ Cup title since 2019. Following this victory, they will go to the finals against the winner of the other semifinal series between TNT Tropang Giga and Meralco Bolts. The next game will take place on Friday, April 7, at the same location. Supporters of Barangay Ginebra are hopeful that their team can maintain its momentum and win the championship.
For more PBA Recap you can click the button below.
