MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings leaned on defensive stops down the stretch to escape with a 71-70 win over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
After seeing their early 15-point lead turned to a 70-67 deficit late in the fourth quarter, the Gin Kings got a basket and two free throws from Justin Brownlee to regain a 71-70 advantage with 46 seconds left.
Gin Kings’ Stephen Holt and Earl Scottie Thompson then put on their defensive clamps on Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to escape with the one-point win and tie the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
“Tonight, it was really about our defense. Have to give credit to Stephen and Jamie (Malonzo), they did an incredible job, and our team defense was also good,” Brownlee said in a post-game interview.
“I think it was a great defensive effort all around and our credit on Jamie and Stephen, they played an incredible defense on RHJ the all night,” added the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player.
Brownlee finished with a double-double of 35 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Gin Kings, while Thompson had a near triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists.
Both teams struggled with their shots in the opening quarter with the Gin Kings clinging to a 23-19 lead midway through the second period before they created separation from baskets by Thompson and Brownlee for a 32-19 halftime lead.
Gin Kings’ lead stretched to its largest at 15 points at 36-21 on a conversion by Japeth Aguilar, but the Tropang Giga slowly clawed their way back to take a 70-67 lead on triples by Rey Nambatac, Roger Pogoy, and Calvin Oftana late in the fourth quarter.“These guys just showed true grit the entire game and if we want to have a chance in the series, we have to show that grit,” said Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone after the game. “That’s the way we have to play to have a chance (against TNT).”
Hollis-Jefferson finished with a double-double of 25 points and 15 rebounds, Nambatac added 14 markers, while Pogoy contributed 11 markers for the Tropang Giga./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 71 – Brownlee 35, Thompson 16, J. Aguilar 8, Holt 7, Rosario 2, Ahanmisi 2, Malonzo 0, Cu 0.
TNT 70 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 14, Pogoy 11, Erram 6, Oftana 5, Khobuntin 4, Williams 2, Razon 2, Aurin 1, Heruela 0.
Quarterscores: 21-15, 32-19, 54-45, 71-70.
