Barangay Ginebra San Miguel moved within striking distance of a return to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after grinding out a tense 103-98 victory over Rain or Shine in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinal showdown on Sunday, May 24, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Backed by another poised performance from longtime resident import Justin Brownlee and a fearless effort from rookie guard RJ Abarrientos, the Gin Kings seized a pivotal 2-1 series lead and gained momentum heading into a crucial Game 4 encounter.
As he has done countless times in high-pressure situations, Brownlee delivered when Ginebra needed him most. The veteran reinforcement finished with 24 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds while expertly controlling the tempo and orchestrating the offense in the closing minutes. Brownlee’s steady presence once again proved invaluable as the Gin Kings weathered repeated comeback attempts from a gritty Rain or Shine squad.
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Abarrientos, meanwhile, continued to cement his growing reputation as one of the league’s toughest young guards. The rookie floor general chipped in 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds despite playing through a painful broken nose suffered during Game 2 after taking an elbow from Rain or Shine forward Jhonard Clarito.
Initially entering the game wearing a protective mask, Abarrientos quickly abandoned it after struggling to adjust while on the floor. Rather than allow the discomfort to affect his rhythm, the young guard elected to continue the game without it, drawing admiration from teammates, coaches, and fans alike for his toughness and determination.
“Parang hindi ako makahinga kapag may mask, hindi ko makuha yung rhythm ko. Mag-mamask talaga dapat. Pero wala eh, pag hindi kumportable, aalisin ko talaga. Yun din sabi sa akin, pag hindi kumportable, alisin ko na lang. Ganun talaga kaya nilaro ko na lang,” Abarrientos said after the game.
Despite visibly dealing with pain throughout the contest, Abarrientos never backed down from the physicality of the semifinal battle. He attacked the defense aggressively, made timely baskets, and handled significant minutes as Ginebra leaned heavily on its backcourt execution late in the game.
LOOK: Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos is wearing a protective mask, after getting hit in the nose in Game 2. pic.twitter.com/on7PZxlCd1
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His willingness to play through injury earned glowing praise from veteran head coach Tim Cone, who highlighted the rookie’s courage and competitive spirit during the postgame press conference.
“We were hoping that he would wear a mask. But he was complaining about it even yesterday when we brought it over. He was complaining about it before the game. I wasn’t surprised that he took it and threw it at my feet,” Cone said in the postmatch press conference.
Cone went on to commend Abarrientos for refusing to sit out despite the severity of the injury and the physical demands of a tightly contested playoff game.
“He is a tough kid. Really, really tough kid. His nose was like this big but he wanted to play tonight. He wanted to win tonight. He could be one of those guys that said, ‘I’m hurt, I can’t play.’ He came out and played 41 minutes and 43 seconds with pretty much a busted nose,” he added.
The victory underscored Ginebra’s growing confidence as the series progresses. After splitting the first two games, the Gin Kings appeared more composed and efficient down the stretch in Game 3, executing key plays on both ends to fend off the Elasto Painters’ relentless challenge. Their experience in pressure-packed postseason situations ultimately made the difference in the final minutes.
For Rain or Shine, the loss places the team in a difficult position as it now faces the urgency of trying to even the series before Ginebra can move to the brink of another Finals appearance. The Elasto Painters showed resilience throughout the contest but struggled to contain Ginebra’s late-game execution and Brownlee’s playmaking brilliance.
With momentum clearly shifting toward the league’s most popular franchise, Barangay Ginebra will attempt to tighten its grip on the semifinal series when the two teams collide again in Game 4 on Wednesday, May 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Another victory would place the Gin Kings just one win away from the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, while Rain or Shine faces mounting pressure to respond and prevent the series from slipping further out of reach.
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