Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 4 against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETIO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra kicked it up a notch in the second quarter and then kept it together the rest of the way on Sunday night, gutting out a 106-92 Game 4 victory at the expense of TNT to level the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals to two games apiece.
The Gin Kings hit one big basket after another just when the defending champions tried to claw back into the thick of things at Smart Araneta Coliseum, pulling out a pulsating win before a thick crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
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“We just kept making big shots when we needed to. We’ve been doing that pretty much all conference long. It just seems like when TNT starts to make a run at it, somebody hits a big shot,” head coach Tim Cone said shortly after the series equalizer.
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Stephen Holt during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Stephen Holt starred with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists while also playing splendidly on defense with five steals. Maverick Ahanmisi was just as commendable, chipping in 18 points—half of which came in the final period where TNT tried to mount a comeback.
“Stephen was it tonight, making those big shots. Maverick hit that big four, and Justin (Brownlee) had one. So we’ve been fortunate we’ve been hitting the big shots when they count. Tonight, anyway,” Cone added.
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Brownlee had a series-high 34 points spiked with six rebounds and four assists. Japeth Aguilar had 18 as well, while Scottie Thompson added 12 more into the scoring effort that finally brought the club past the century mark for the first time in the best-of-seven duel.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, crowned as Best Import earlier in the night, had 28 points and nine rebounds, while Calvin Oftana finally got out of his slump with 26 points. Rey Nambatac chipped in 15 on the night the Tropang Giga’s defense showed cracks.
“We just got to continue to stay gritty, and stay humble and stay hungry,” said Holt, whose squad will try to take control of the series on Wednesday also at the Big Dome.