RESULTS: PBA Finals Ginebra vs TNT Game 3 November 1

By: 1 day ago

SCHEDULE: PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 3

November 1, Friday – Smart Araneta Coliseum

PBA Finals: Ginebra plays big on both ends to chop TNT lead to 2-1

Scottie Thompson Ginebra vs TNT PBA Finals

Scottie Thompson during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra took its turn on choking the life out of TNT on Friday night to finally put itself on the board in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals after a well-earned Game 3 win.

And coach Tim Cone is hoping that the 85-73 win before a big All Saints’ Day crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum is the spark they need for another signature comeback that the beloved franchise had pulled off in two of its past title runs.

“We’re finding avenues of escape and turning [the series] into a defensive struggle,” Cone said after the lowest-scoring contest thus far in the best-of-seven series, which the Gin Kings still trail, 2-1, after losses in the first two games.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson embraces boos in PBA Finals: ‘I love it’

TNT Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis Jefferson during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 3 against Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson bore quite the brunt of jeers from Ginebra fans in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

After two games of pure cheers for the former NBA player as the Tropang Giga took a 2-0 lead, Ginebra fans united on Friday to try and throw Hollis-Jefferson off his game.

When RHJ was asked whether he was fazed hearing more boos than usual from the predominantly Ginebra crowd, his response was simple.

PBA Finals: RR Pogoy the defender a big reason why TNT is leading

RR Pogoy in action during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

RR Pogoy’s production for TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra has taken a slight dip. But he will be the first to tell everyone that it’s by design.

The TNT gunner, best known for his marksmanship and crafty ways getting to the basket, is averaging only 10.5 points a night, sliding from the 13.71 that had him running second behind sweet-shooting import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the 19 games prior to the best-of-seven series finalé.

“This has really become my role,” Pogoy told reporters shortly in Filipino after the 96-84 Game 2 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday that gave the defending champions a 2-0 cushion.

PBA Finals: Scottie Thompson provides much-needed spark for Ginebra

Scottie Thompson sparks Barangay Ginebra to a Game 3 win against TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson had one simple motive heading into Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

With the Gin Kings down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series, the squad’s main guard was determined to give Ginebra a shot in the arm and he did so but providing the spark in the 85-73 win over TNT at Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

“This is the Finals now. We need to grind it out every game so of course, coming into this game, we were down so I wanted to help,” said Thompson in Filipino.

PBA Finals: Ginebra clamps down on TNT to take Game 3

Scottie Thompson sparks Barangay Ginebra to a Game 3 win against TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra kept it together in the most critical times on Friday night to escape TNT by the skin of its teeth and pull out an 85-73 Game 3 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

The Gin Kings muzzled the defending champions down the stretch, ultimately keeping the Tropang Giga to their lowest scoring output in the conference on the way to finally tabbing a win in the best-of-seven championship series pitting two powerhouse clubs.

“Well, we certainly played a lot better and played better defense,” head coach Tim Cone said shortly after the triumph at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

PBA Finals Game 3 scores: TNT vs Ginebra

PBA Finals: TNT tries to drive Ginebra out of groove again

While TNT has been making stops, nothing Barangay Ginebra has done on defense has slowed down Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the PBA Finals. AUGUST DELA CRUZ.

TNT’s defense has been on full display through the first two games of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals that Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone couldn’t help but admit feeling outmaneuvered by his longtime friend and adversary Chot Reyes.

But Reyes, whose Tropang Giga will look to secure a commanding 3-0 lead on Friday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum, offered nothing complex as to why they have the Gin Kings’ number at this stage of the championship fight.

“Our focus is just knowing what Ginebra wants to do and trying our best to stop them and making them work for it,” Reyes said ahead of the 7:30 p.m. contest that was oddly scheduled on All Saints Day.

PBA Finals: TNT ‘not thinking’ about 2-0 lead over Ginebra

TNT Tropang Giga during Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—TNT may be two games away from winning its second straight PBA Governors’ Cup title but that doesn’t mean the Tropang Giga will take their feet off the gas pedal just yet.

Following the squad’s Game 2 win over Ginebra, veteran Jayson Castro said that he and the team are in no position to be complacent.

Instead, they aim to take things one game at a time in hopes of winning the import-laden conference’s richest prize for the second straight season.

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