The TNT Tropang Giga rode on their red-hot three-point shooting and usual stout defense to notch a decisive 95-89 win in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Seven first quarter triples enabled the Tropa to build a 29-18 lead after one, with Kelly Williams and RR Pogoy accounting for five. The ageless Williams hit back-to-back early treys to turn a 9-3 deficit into a 9-all deadlock, before Pogoy hit three for a 9-2 run that put TNT ahead, 20-16 after trailing 14-11. Calvin Oftana and Glen Khobuntin each added a triple to help stake the Tropa to the first double-digit lead of the game.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson then took over in the second, firing 16 of his 34 points to push the TNT lead to 55-39 going to intermission. The Tropa also added two more triples in their first half onslaught as they reasserted their mastery of Ginebra.
TNT Keeps Ginebra at Bay in the Second Half to Get 1-0 Lead in PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals
Ginebra began showing signs of life in the third behind Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt and even got to within 66-58 at the 3:55 mark. But Oftana’s second triple of the game silenced the crowd and restored order for the Tropa, who outscored the crowd darlings 14-8 the rest of the third to enter the fourth with an 80-66 lead.
TNT kept Ginebra at bay the entire fourth quarter, keeping the lead to double-digits pretty much the entire way to secure Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. Only a final minute lay-up from Justin Brownlee and a four-pointer by RJ Abarrientos with 5 seconds left allowed Ginebra to get closer for the final score.
Hollis-Jefferson added 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block to his 34 points in yet another no-relief effort. Pogoy finished with 15 points—all on threes—while Oftana and Rey Nambatac chipped in 10 each. In all, TNT hit 14 triples to Ginebra’s seven.
Brownlee paced Ginebra with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists but was just 11-for-25 from the field. Scottie Thompson added 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, while RJ Abarrientos had 13 off the bench. Holt chipped in 9 markers and Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario each put up 8.
Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is on Sunday, also at the Mall of Asia Arena. Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
The scores:
TNT (95) – Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 15, Oftana 10, Nambatac 10, Williams 8, Khobuntin 8, Erram 5, Aurin 5, Heruela 0, Razon 0
Barangay Ginebra (89) – Brownlee 28, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 13, Holt 9, J. Aguilar 9, Rosario 8, Gray 3, Malonzo 2, Ahanmisi 0
