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| Troy Rosario backstopped Terrence Jones in leading the KaTropa to the Game 1 win. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY--TNT went on a fury in the fourth quarter to upend Ginebra, 95-92, at the start of the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday night.
Terrence Jones saved the day for the KaTropa with clutch moments on both ends of the floor even as his teammates responded in the final play as they took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series against the Barangay.
Down 76-84 with 7:41 left, TNT went on a 17-5 run to take a 93-89 lead with 1:30 remaining.
Stanley Pringle kept Ginebra afloat with a quick layup that cut the lead down to two, 93-91, with 1:25 to play.
The team even had a chance to tie the game as Justin Brownlee was fouled by Anthony Semerad in a battle for the loose ball with 39 seconds left.
Brownlee only made 1-for-2 from the foul line, but Scottie Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound and went for the go-ahead.
But Jones got a piece of Thompson's teardrop, and he drove all the way to the cup for a crucial layup with 10.5 seconds left.
The Barangay still had one shot to force overtime, but the KaTropa's defense held fort, leading to a Joe Devance's triple against Jones's outstretched arms that only hit the back rim as time expired.
Jones (12 rebounds) and Troy Rosario (10) each had 24-point double-doubles with the former displaying another solid all-around performance with seven assists, four blocks, and three assists for TNT, which can extend its lead in Game 2 on Sunday night back at "The Big Dome".
Brownlee had a near-triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists with five steals and one block for Ginebra.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Down 76-84 with 7:41 left, TNT went on a 17-5 run to take a 93-89 lead with 1:30 remaining.
Stanley Pringle kept Ginebra afloat with a quick layup that cut the lead down to two, 93-91, with 1:25 to play.
The team even had a chance to tie the game as Justin Brownlee was fouled by Anthony Semerad in a battle for the loose ball with 39 seconds left.
Brownlee only made 1-for-2 from the foul line, but Scottie Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound and went for the go-ahead.
But Jones got a piece of Thompson's teardrop, and he drove all the way to the cup for a crucial layup with 10.5 seconds left.
The Barangay still had one shot to force overtime, but the KaTropa's defense held fort, leading to a Joe Devance's triple against Jones's outstretched arms that only hit the back rim as time expired.
Jones (12 rebounds) and Troy Rosario (10) each had 24-point double-doubles with the former displaying another solid all-around performance with seven assists, four blocks, and three assists for TNT, which can extend its lead in Game 2 on Sunday night back at "The Big Dome".
Brownlee had a near-triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists with five steals and one block for Ginebra.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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