PBA Finals: TNT escapes Ginebra in thriller, forces Game 7
TNT Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis Jefferson during Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT cornerstone Jayson Castro walked gingerly into Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, trying to send a message: The PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals are far from over.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Poy Erram made sure of that hours later, as the Tropang Giga hacked out an 87-83 Game 6 victory to drag Barangay Ginebra into a no-tomorrow Game 7 duel for the midseason crown.
“I said, let’s just grab this opportunity. Go out there and play hard. If we lose, we lose. But at least we’re not going to go down without a fight,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “And credit to the guys, they just gave it their all.”
HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 6
Two nights removed from a loss and heated exchange with his coach, Erram responded with his finest play of the series, turning in 14 points and six rebounds while making a pair of key plays inside the final 25 ticks of the contest to preserve Hollis-Jefferson’s team-best 29 points and ultimately extend the club’s hunt for a second-straight title this season.
TNT Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis Jefferson, Poy Erram and Calvin Oftana during Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Rey Nambatac chipped in 23 points to sustain his splendid play this series, while Calvin Oftana delivered 14 more in the escape act at the fabled Big Dome.
As expected, Ginebra, at the doorstep of what could have been a 16th championship, refused to go down easily, with Scottie Thompson making things interesting by banking a triple with 10.5 remaining.
READ: PBA Finals: Ginebra, TNT seeking resolve to get things done
But behind a resolute Hollis-Jefferson, who promised to “fight like hell” last Sunday, TNT pulled through before a roaring crowd of 17,645 fans who are getting more of the nerve-wracking duel when the contest hits fever pitch in the decider this Friday.
Thompson finished with 12 points to backstop Justin Brownlee’s 22. RJ Abarrientos finally got out of a funk and contributed 12 points, while Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt tossed 11 each in the losing effort.
