The PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis continued on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. At the end of hostilities, one team lived to fight another day while the other get on the proverbial hill. Here’s a recap of the action:
NorthPort Survives Ginebra, Lives to Fight Another Day
The NorthPort Batang Pier denied Barangay Ginebra San Miguel a sweep of the semis, posting a 108-103 victory to extend the series to a Game 5.
Kadeem Jack put up a monstrous double-double of 39 points and 15 rebounds to lead the charge for the Batang Pier while also making a clutch basket with under a minute left. A lone wolf fighting a pack for much of Game 3, Jack finally got some help, with Arvin Tolentino getting loose for 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists, Joshua Munzon scoring 14, and Will Navarro firing 16 off the bench.
Little-used Paolo Taha also came up big. Getting a surprise start, the former Ginebra guard scattered 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as he brought energy and intensity for NorthPort.
Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos led Ginebra with 18 points apiece but were a combined 5-for-17 from downtown. As a team, Ginebra made just nine triples, or five fewer than the 14 they hit in Game 3.
For all of Ginebra’s struggles from deep, they were still within 104-103 with less than a minute left after a blazing 10-0 run just as NorthPort looked on the verge of an easy win. But Jack hit a fadeaway jumper from just inside the foul line and Brownlee missed an open lay-up on the other end to seal the game.
The Scores:
NorthPort (108) – Jack 39, Tolentino 20, Navarro 16, Munzon 14, Taha 11, Nelle 3, Bulanadi 3, Miranda 2, Onwubere 0
Ginebra (103) – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Holt 15, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J.Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 2, Gray 0, Cu 0
TNT Turns Back Rain or Shine, Inches Closer to Another Finals
The TNT Tropang Giga proved why they are a champion team, digging deep to repulse the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 93-85 even with import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Leading the way for the Tropa this time were Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy, who fired 26 and 22, respectively. Hollis-Jefferson was held to only 17 points but came away with 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Rey Nambatac also bounced back from a 2-point Game 3 to score 12, including 11 in the first half. Kim Aurin provided a spark off the TNT bench again, firing 9 points.
The Tropa’s collective effort spoiled Deon Thompson’s monstrous 44-point, 13-rebound double-double. Keith Datu and Anton Asistio came off the bench to score 8 apiece, but Rain or Shine sorely missed Adrian Nocum’s production as he was held to a measly 4 points on 1-for-7 shooting. He also committed 4 of the Elasto Painters’ 14 errors.
The Scores:
TNT (93) – Oftana 26, Pogoy 22, Hollis-Jefferson 17, Nambatac 12, Aurin 9, Erram 4, Williams 3, Razon 0, Khobuntin 0
Rain or Shine (85) – Thompson 44, Datu 8, Asistio 8, Caracut 6, Tiongson 6, Clarito 5, Nocum 4, Mamauyac 4, Norwood 0, Santillan 0
PBA Commissioner’s Cup: The Semifinals Continue
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis will continue on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Ginebra and TNT both looking to seal a Finals rematch. But Rain or Shine and NorthPort will look to rain on that parade as they try to stay alive.
