The PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is back to square one after Jamie Malonzo helped Barangay Ginebra San Miguel chalk up a 95-78 rout of the TNT Tropang Giga at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
In danger of going all-Filipino after import Justin Brownlee dislocated his thumb in Game 3, Ginebra got a huge break as their naturalized reinforcement pushed through his injury and suited up. He also made his first two shots—both midrange jumpers—in what proved to be an omen of good things to come.
Perhaps energized by Brownlee’s return, Malonzo, Stephen Holt, and Japeth Aguilar all broke out, providing JB offensive firepower against that stout TNT defense. But for all of Ginebra’s fine play in the first half, they were up by just four, 53-49, thanks in part to RR Pogoy’s 16 first half points.
Ginebra Breaks Away in the Second Half Led by Jamie Malonzo
TNT, as expected, battled back in the third and retook the lead, 62-61, at the 3:45 mark. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added to it with a free throw a couple of possessions later as the Tropa looked poised to take over. But Ginebra uncorked an 11-0 run punctuated by an Aguilar jam and a Malonzo triple to race ahead, 72-63, before Calvin Oftana hit a pull-up triple to end the third, 72-66.
Both teams slugged it out to start the fourth yet again, with TNT climbing to within two points thrice in the first six minutes of the payoff period—the last at 78-76. But a 9-0 run highlighted by a Malonzo stepback three ultimately spelled the difference as Ginebra tied the series at 2-2.
Malonzo led all scorers with 24 points anchored on six triples while playing good defense, mostly on Hollis-Jefferson. Brownlee finished with 23 markers, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, while Japeth Aguilar added 18 points and 8 boards. Stephen Holt had 12 and Scottie Thompson chipped in 9 points and 9 caroms. Mav Ahanmisi, getting extended minutes in place of RJ Abarrientos, put up 7.
Oftana and Pogoy led TNT with 17 and 16, respectively, while Rey Nambatac continued his solid play with 13. However, RHJ struggled for the Tropa, finishing with a Finals low 14 points on 5-for-18 shooting. He did have 12 rebounds and 5 assists.
Ginebra, TNT Prepare for Swing Game
With Ginebra’s Game 4 win, the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is now down to a best-of-three, with the winner of Sunday’s Game 5 getting on the proverbial hill. Expect fireworks at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as both teams look to get that 3-2 advantage to be a win away from the championship.
Game 4 on Sunday is set at 7:30 p.m.
The Scores:
Ginebra (95) – Malonzo 24, Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 18, Holt 12, Thompson 9, Ahanmisi 7, Abarrientos 2, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Pinto 0, Rosario 0
TNT (78) – Oftana 17, Pogoy 16, Hollis-Jefferson 14, Nambatac 13, Williams 9, Erram 9, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Heruela 0, Ebona 0
