THUMBS UP: BROWNLEE 'INJURY GAME' DRAWS PBA FINALS' HIGHEST TV RATING

THE ‘Thumb Game’ drew the biggest television rating so far of the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT.

Game 4 of the title series that saw import Justin Brownlee fearlessly suit up and play despite a dislocated right thumb, had close to 4 million viewers glued to RPTV 9 to watch the Kings eke out a 95-78 win over the Tropang Giga.

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The ratings were based on the Nationwide Urban Television Audience Measurement, according to Commissioner Willie Marcial.

"Sa NUTAM ratings 'yun. Wala pa yung sa PBA Rush and Pilipinas Live," said the PBA chief.

The drumbeat leading to Friday’s game in Antipolo heightened as Brownlee dislocated the thumb in his shooting hand early in the second half of Game 3, which Ginebra lost, 87-85, to the Tropang Giga.

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

The severity of the injury left the Kings uncertain on the availability of the prolific import for Game 4 and beyond.

But the 36-year-old Brownlee arrived at the Ynares Center two hours before the match, had an shootaround to test a heavily-taped right hand, and then went on and delivered one of the gutsiest performances even seen in PBA history.

Injured and all, the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in helping Ginebra even the best-of-seven title series at 2-2.

2025-03-24T10:11:21Z