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| TNT won back-to-back titles this season. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY—Another endgame scare, another survival from TNT, but this time, it was for the PBA Commissioner's Cup title.
The Tropang Giga sealed the chip for the mid-season conference by holding off Barangay Ginebra in the endgame anew to prevail in overtime, 87-83, in front of 21,274 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the deciding game of the championship series on Friday night.
TNT appeared to be holding on after taking an 85-79 lead with 2:22 left in the extension, but Ginebra held them scoreless for over two minutes and eventually trimmed the gap to two, 85-83, with 51 seconds left.
The Gin Kings had a chance to take the lead, but Scottie Thompson missed a three-point attempt and also failed to get the long offensive rebound, giving the ball back to the Tropang Giga with 13.4 seconds left.
Ginebra's defense nearly forced a turnover on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but as the trap collapsed, Calvin Oftana found himself wide open for the layup that upped the lead back to four with 6.3 seconds remaining.
Justin Brownlee tried to send the game to a second overtime, but he missed a four-point attempt as time ran out on the Gin Kings.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT, which is now a Philippine Cup title away from completing a grand slam, with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.
Rey Nambatac, adjudged as the Finals MVP, added 22 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Brownlee led Ginebra, which failed to exact revenge on TNT after also losing to them in the Governors' Cup Finals, with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, but he too committed seven turnovers.
Japeth Aguilar added 15 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
The Scores:
TNT 87–Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 22, Khobuntin 14, Oftana 10, Pogoy 9, Erram 5, Williams 2, Aurin 0, Heruela 0
GINEBRA 83–Brownlee 28, Thompson 13, J. Aguilar 15, Holt 12, Abarrientos 8, Ahanmisi 3, Rosario 2, Malonzo 2
QUARTERS: 22-16, 40-35, 60-62, 79-79, 87-83
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