MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga surged ahead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals with an 87-85 escape over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 3 last night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Down 80-82 after split free throws from Gin Kings’ Jeth Troy Rosario and Earl Scottie Thompson, the Tropang Giga got a game-tying basket from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson before taking an 85-82 lead on a Rey Nambatac triple with 30 seconds left.
The Tropang Giga widened the lead to 87-82 on a layup by Glenn Khobuntin from a turnover by Gin Kings’ Rhon Jay Abarrientos before Thompson nailed a three-pointer to cut the Gin Kings’ deficit to 85-87.
Nambatac top-scored with 24 points, including five three-point conversions, to go with seven assists and five rebounds as the Tropang Giga took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Hollis-Jefferson contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, while Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin contributed 16 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Tropang Giga.
Also helping the Tropang Giga in pulling off the win is the exit of Gin Kings import Justin Brownlee in the third quarter after dislocating his right thumb after diving for the looseball.
“We just put our very best. We actually talked about it, when Justin went out, I told my players that we will see the best Ginebra out and even without Justin we have to be at our best out there,” said TNT head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes after the game.
“I also told them about how deep that team is and that we should not let our guard down even without Justin. So when Ginebra took the lead, we did not panicked, we just stayed calm,” he added.
Brownlee finished with 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds before the injury, Thompson added 15 markers, Rosario and Abarrientos ended with 13 apiece, and Jamie Malonzo contributed 11 points for the Gin Kings./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 87 – Nambatac 24, Hollis-Jefferson 20, Oftana 16, Khobuntin 10, Pogoy 8, Erram 5, Aurin 4, Williams 0, Heruela 0.
GINEBRA 85 – Brownlee 19, Thompson 15, Rosario 13, Abarrientos 13, Malonzo 11, J. Aguilar 6, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 3.
Quarterscores: 17-17, 42-48, 72-66, 87-85.
