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.

READ: PBA Finals: TNT has Ginebra ‘figured out,’ says Justin Brownlee

“I think coming from the San Miguel series, we were just a little worn out and were not as focused as we should be. The two games kind of woke us up. Hopefully, this also wakes us up and gets us going through this series.”

Scottie Thompson put up 15 points, five rebounds and four assists to show the way for the fancied squad who had very few answers to the TNT defense in the first two meetings.

Justin Brownlee had 18 points and 13 rebounds to backstop Thompson, while Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 16 points—half of them coming in the fourth period as Ginebra tried its darndest to stay ahead.

READ: PBA Finals: TNT braces for Ginebra outside shooting

Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 3 against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

40-year-old veteran playmaker LA Tenorio started for the Gin Kings, providing some spunk early into the contest. He finished with nine points.

Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds. The locals, however, were hardly felt with Poy Erram leading the way with just 12 while Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro finishing with only 10 each.

“This one won’t mean much if we don’t get one on Sunday,” Cone said of the return match that will be played again at the Big Dome. “Obviously, we had to expend a lot of energy to win this one tonight. We have to find a way to get that energy on Sunday.”

The Scores:

GINEBRA 85 – Brownlee 18, Ahanmisi 16, Thompson 15, J.Aguilar 10, Holt 10, Tenorio 9, Cu 3, Abarrientos 2, Devance 2

TNT 73 – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Erram 12, Castro 10, Pogoy 10, Oftana 9, Khobuntin 4, Nambatac 2, Williams 2, Aurin 2

Quarters : 20-19, 42-39, 62-59, 85-73