TNT dethrones Ginebra with 2nd half shutdown

After two years, the KaTropa are back in the finals. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--TNT may have just barely missed out on a sweep.

But the team is still finals-bound anyway.

The KaTropa booked a place in the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals, edging Barangay Ginebra, 103-92, in Game 4 of the best-of-five semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Thursday night.

Two nights after getting shut down late in Game 3 to be deprived of the sweep, it was TNT's turn to give Ginebra a late beatdown, holding the erstwhile champion to just 30 points in the second half after the latter dropped 62 in the first half to book its first finals seat in two years.

Terrence Jones put up a triple-double of 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists with one steal for the KaTropa, who will await the winner of the other semifinal series between the San Miguel Beermen and the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters in the best-of-seven finals next week.

Holding a 2-1 lead in their own best-of-five series against ROS, SMB can seal a championship date with Ginebra in Game 4 on Friday night also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Troy Rosario added a double-double of his own with 22 points and 11 rebounds with two assists and one steal.

Jayson Castro chipped in 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar each put up 27 markers for the Barangay.

The scores:

TNT 103 - Jones 24, Rosario 22, Castro 20, Pogoy 14, Heruela 9, Reyes 6, Trollano 6, Taha 2, Washington 0.

Ginebra 92 - Brownlee 27, Aguilar 27, Pringle 15, Devance 13, Tenorio 5, Thompson 3, Caguioa 2, Slaughter 0.

Quarterscores: 32-32, 58-62, 86-79, 103-92

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