Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is now on the cusp of a championship thanks to Scottie Thompson.
The former MVP was stellar in Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as he powered Ginebra to a 73-66 victory over the TNT Tropang Giga and the 3-2 series lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Thompson finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists and was all over the floor on both ends, orchestrating and scoring on offense and disrupting TNT and rebounding on defense.
But, early on, it looked like the Tropa would run away with the victory in Game 5. Five early triples put TNT on the driver’s seat, 24-17, after one. The Tropang Giga continued to shoot well in the second as it built a 45-35 advantage going into intermission.
NSD Strikes Again Led by Scottie Thompson, Mav Ahanmisi
Still down 47-37 early in the third, Ginebra uncorked a 10-0 run to finally catch up with TNT. Maverick Ahanmisi, one of Ginebra’s unsung heroes in its critical win in Game 4, and Thompson spearheaded the fight back.
Justin Brownlee, who dislocated his thumb in Ginebra’s Game 3 loss, also got into the act after a two-point first half, scoring 8 points in the third and giving Ginebra the lead, 57-56, going to the payoff period. The fourth quarter would turn out to be a nip-and-tuck affair befitting a Game 5, with both teams not giving an inch.
Then, with TNT still leading, 64-63, Thompson just took over. He scored a lefty lay-in with four minutes remaining to give Ginebra a 65-64 lead. He then scored on another lay-up a few minutes later to give the crowd darlings the lead for good, 67-66. The former MVP next hit a stepback midrange jumper off the glass to extend the lead to 69-66.
Ginebra held on, keeping TNT scoreless to eke out the Game 5 win.
Despite a scoreless first half, Brownlee still finished with 18 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Ahanmisi added 11 points off the bench, while Japeth Aguilar had 11. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Rey Nambatac led the way for TNT with 19 apiece, although the Best Import of the Conference struggled again from the field, shooting just 7-for-26.
Ginebra Shoots for the Crown
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals resumes on Wednesday, March 26, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Ginebra will be shooting for the title and vindication, while TNT will look to extend the series to a Game 7.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
The Scores:
Ginebra (73) – Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, J.Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0
TNT (66) – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Pogoy 8, Aurin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0
