TNT returns to the PBA finals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–TNT turned to its defense down the stretch and carved out a 103-92 victory to dethrone Barangay Ginebra in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Thursday night at Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“We just stuck to our defense. It was our main concern—making stops,” said coach Bong Ravena, who saw his charges limit the defending champions to just 30 points in the final two periods of the contest.
Already up by eight points in the payoff period, TNT’s main guns conspired for a 9-0 run to put the KaTropa squarely on the driver seat and snuff out any hopes of a comeback by the Gin Kings.
“As coach Mark (Dickel) would say, we’re off to the next stage. We’re just waiting for our next opponent.
The KaTropa now await the winner of the other Final Four contest between San Miguel and Rain or Shine.
Terrence Jones registered his fifth triple-double as a TNT import, scoring 24 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.
“The local team stepped up, too,” added Ravena who also drew 22 points from Troy Rosario and 20 more from Jayson Castro. Roger Pogoy chipped in 14 more to round out KaTropa’s twin-digit scorers.
Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar both scored 27 points and plucked nine rebounds each for Ginebra, which even led by as many as nine points.
The victory marks the first time TNT made the Finals since the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup.
POST-GAME INTERVIEW