JUSTIN Brownlee erupted for a new career-high 51 points as Barangay Ginebra bounced back from a season-opening loss by edging San Miguel, 108-102, on Tuesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Brownlee carried the fight for the Gin Kings in the second half like he has done for most of his successful PBA career as the league’s most popular team won for the first time this season while atoning for a loss to Rain or Shine in Candon, Ilocos Sur.

Brownlee also put the finishing touches to the win, scoring on a running shot with 28.1 seconds remaining as Ginebra evened its record to 1-1 win-loss in Group B while dealing San Miguel its first defeat in three games.

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Japeth Aguilar finished with 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, while RJ Abarrientos atoned for his poor 1-of-15 shooting in his first PBA game by scoring 13 points on 5-of-12 from the field to go with five assists.

But the story of the game was Brownlee.

In his first PBA game in Manila in 16 months, Brownlee scored 35 second-half point to carry the load for Ginebra. He eclipsed by one point his previous high which he scored in a Ginebra overtime win over Columbian (Terrafirma) on July 14, 2019.

With the game tied at 102, Aguilar scored two consecutive baskets to start the late push and never looked back.

“Our guys just came out and played, kept their poise, they came down and got good shots, and they found Justin and that’s really the key,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “I don’t think we did that in our last game when we were in Candon.”

“That’s basically what you do with San Miguel, you find ways to pull out a victory because they are incredibly tough,” said Cone.

After scoring 50 against Blackwater last Sunday, Jordan Adams made 23 points, while June Mar Fajardo had 17 points and 17 rebounds for San Miguel.

The win left Rain or Shine and NLEX in a share of the lead in Group B with 2-0 slates.