Ginebra nears finals, nips TNT in game 3

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Ginebra took the driver’s seat again in its series against TNT after taking a close 106-103 win in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings are a win away from a finals return and could close things out on Sunday.

TNT had a chance to send the game to overtime but Glen Rice Jr.’s last three-point attempt bounced off the rim as Justin Brownlee tried his hardest to challenge the shot.

“That was a great game, both teams played well and it came down to the last shot,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “It bounced off the rim and it came out in our favor.”

“The series is not over, the series haven’t been won. We have the lead, which is nice to have, but we’re certainly not safe especially against a team like TNT.”

Scottie Thompson could’ve iced the game for the Gin Kings earlier in the fourth but he missed his two chances from the free throw line with 7.1 seconds left with the scores at 106-103 with Ginebra on the lead.

Thompson’s botches freebies allowed Rice to take TNT’s final shot attempt, but fortunately for Ginebra the ball bounced off the rim.

Joe Devance came up big for Ginebra with 20 points, four of which came in the final 1:34 of the game, on 8-of-14 shooting while Brownlee had a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double.

Thompson also had a double-double for Ginebra as he put up 17 points and 12 rebounds while LA Tenorio almost finished with a triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

Rice had a game-high 44 points to go along 20 rebounds to lead TNT while Jayson Castro filled up the stat sheets with 17 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.