TNT clinches top spot, routs Ginebra

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BIÑAN—TNT finished off the elimination stages of the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup with a convincing, 104-92, beatdown of crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Sunday at Alonte Sports Arena. 

The KaTropa goes to the playoffs with a league-best 10-1 record while Ginebra, at 8-3, settled for the third seed. 

“Both teams came out to win, we just played a little bit better than they did,” said KaTropa head coach Jong Uichico. 

TNT was up by as much as 22, 92-70, in the fourth but Ginebra cut it to 10, 95-85, with the Biñan crowd firmly behind them in support. 

Jayson Castro, however, was having none of Ginebra’s “never-say-die” attitude and buried a cold-blooded triple with 2:56 left pushing KaTropa’s lead to 98-85 and the momentum back to TNT’s side. 

Mychal Ammons led TNT with 24 points and 16 rebounds while Castro had 19 points and 10 assists. 

Justin Brownlee carried Ginebra with 34 points and 14 boards.

The KaTropa’s victory also helped defending champion San Miguel clinch the No. 2 spot by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule.