MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga used a huge second half rampage to defeat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 104-88, in Game 1 of the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Rey Nambatac tallied a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with seven assists and two steals to be named Player of the Game as the Tropang Giga took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the way for the defending champions with 19 points, John Paul Erram contributed 15 markers, while Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy tallied 14 and 12, respectively.
Clinging to a 55-49 lead midway through the third quarter, the Tropang Giga leaned on a triple by Erram and consecutive points from Castro to establish a 72-62 advantage heading into the fourth period.
Nambatac continued Tropang Giga’s run in the fourth period with a four-point shot and inside incursions to widen their lead further to 89-69 on a connection by Pogoy with seven minutes left.
The Gin Kings made their last push at 77-91, but the Tropang Giga responded with an outside conversion from Glenn Khobuntin and inside attacks from Oftana to seal the win.
Tropang Giga head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes credited to tough defense of his team since the opening period, which limited the Gin Kings’ outside shooting and fastbreak attacks.
“We know the strength of Ginebra because we are a data-driven team, you can see on the stats that we really took away their strengths in this game and making sure that we leaned on our strength, which is playing defense,” Reyes said after the game.
“When we got off to that good start defensively, I think that set the tone for this game,” he added. “Theirs is no secret to our game but defense, I think our defense won it for us tonight.”
Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 23 points, Japeth Aguilar added 14 markers, while Ralph Cu, Stephen Holt, and Maverick Ahanmisi ended with 14, 13, and 12, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 104 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 18, Erram 15, Castro 14, Pogoy 12, Oftana 9, Aurin 8, Khobuntin 5, Williams 2, Heruela 2, Payawal 0, Galinato 0.
GINEBRA 88 – Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 14, Cu 13, Holt 12, Ahanmisi 10, Thompson 7, Abarrientos 5, Pinto 2, Tenorio 2, Pessumal 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0.
Quarterscores : 27-15, 43-37, 72-62, 104-88.
