In the aftermath of Game 2 of the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, the top seed bracket witnessed a dramatic turnaround. NLEX and Magnolia staged remarkable comebacks to force a best-of-three in their respective series. Meanwhile, San Miguel showcased its championship mettle against Converge, and Justin Brownlee delivered another dominating performance to assert his dominance over Meralco.
Brownlee’s heroics against Meralco proved to be a familiar script, as he blocked Allen Durham’s shot and then sank a step-back 3-pointer to give Ginebra a commanding 2-0 lead in the quarterfinal series. The intense duel between Brownlee and Durham saw both players score 39 points each. Scottie Thompson was Ginebra’s top local player, contributing 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Meralco’s Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge combined for 38 points and 14 rebounds.
Magnolia, on the other hand, handed Rain or Shine a 52-point thrashing to even the series at 1-1. By slowing the pace and generating 117 out of 121 points in the half court, Magnolia prevented Rain or Shine from exploiting transition opportunities. Jabari Bird made a solid debut with 23 points on 66.7% field goal shooting, while veterans Calvin Abueva and Mark Barroca led their team to a blowout win. Rain or Shine’s import Aaron Fuller’s health remains a concern after getting poked in the eye, and the team hopes to improve its 3-point shooting, which stands at 20.3% (14-69) in two games.
In a tightly contested game, NLEX edged out TNT behind DeQuan Jones’ 38 points. Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm, with TNT shooting 37.5% from the field and NLEX edging them out with a 40.3% shooting clip. A key moment came when NLEX’s Javee Mocon committed an ill-advised foul on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but Hollis-Jefferson missed the third free throw and failed to grab the rebound, sealing the victory for NLEX.
San Miguel’s high-powered offense proved too much for Converge, as the Beermen moved within one win of advancing. Import EJ Anosike had a fantastic second game with 41 points on 58.3% shooting from the field, complemented by San Miguel’s hot 3-point shooting (50% conversion rate). Converge’s Jalen Jones had 36 points and was relentless in attacking the rim, but the team hopes to have Justin Arana back for Game 3 after he was subbed out late in the game with an injury. Despite the setback, Converge remains optimistic about its chances, having kept the games close against a juggernaut like San Miguel.
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