TNT rebounds with Ginebra demolition for 3-2 lead
TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 5 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
TNT moved a win away from repeating as champion of the PBA Governors’ Cup after blasting Barangay Ginebra, 99-72, for a 3-2 lead in their Finals series held Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga sizzled in the second quarter while forcing the Gin Kings into a nightmarish shooting in that same stretch that virtually ended the competitive phase of the title showdown’s pivotal game.
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Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made his presence felt once more while RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams and Jayson Castro came through as well as TNT regained the driver seat after squandering a 2-0 lead with back-to-back defeats that allowed Ginebra to draw level.
READ: PBA Finals: Momentum now on Ginebra’s side, Chot Reyes admits
TNT Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis Jefferson during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 5 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
With the win, TNT has two chances to close it out and secure the franchise’s 10th championship, beginning with Game 6 set Friday at the same venue.
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Hollis-Jefferson had 16 points and 10 rebounds while Pogoy had the same number of points behind three triples and one four-pointer to highlight TNT’s shooting from downtown.
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Oftana shrugged off the frustrations of the Game 4 loss and tallied 15 points and eight rebounds, Williams scored seven during TNT’s 9-2 start and finished with 11 points and Castro added 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
In blowing out Game 5, TNT forced Ginebra into a cold shooting night and limited Justin Brownlee below double figures for the first time in his PBA import career, scoring just eight on 3-of-13 from the field.
Scottie Thompson tried to put Ginebra in a tight affair in the first half before TNT broke loose. He ended Game 5 with 13 points.
