Here are the players who made the biggest impact on June 14 and the stats to prove it.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE GAME:
Christopher Albert McCullough TNT C 53 PTS | 22 REB | 1 BLK | 85.4 FPS
Facing elimination, TNT needed a breakout performance from CMac in Game 6, and he delivered exactly that. He took over from the start, nearly recording a double-double with 8 points and 8 rebounds in the first quarter, and he kept going, posting 20 points in the half. Still, he finished even stronger, including hitting a clutch four-pointer in the fourth to help his team stay in front. Throughout this matchup, his outside shooting has been off, converting just 4-for-28, but he found his rhythm at the perfect time, hitting 5-of-9 to help him establish a new career-high.
Justin Brownlee GIN SF 52 PTS | 5 REB | 2 BLK | 73.5 FPS
Once again, Brownlee put the team on his back. While he dominated the first half with 19 points, he took his game to another level in the second half to finish with a consecutive 50-point performance. He was absolutely lethal from the two-point area, hitting 20 of 25, all while contributing strongly across the board. Simply put, Brownlee has been an unstoppable force in this series, and he should be poised for another monster performance in Game 7.
Jordan Timothy Heading TNT SG 19 PTS | 9 AST | 1 STL | 39.7 FPS
Heading continued to get the job done impressively, shooting efficiently from all levels to finish as the top local scorer in Game 6. He also delivered as a playmaker, finishing with a game-high and conference-high output. Since scoring just five points in Game 1, Heading has been steady for TNT, and this level of play will be key if they’re going to win the series.
Jeth Troy Rosario GIN PF 9 PTS | 15 REB | 2 BLK | 33.5 FPS
The big man opened Game 6 strongly, scoring seven first-quarter points. While he couldn’t match that level the rest of the way, scoring just two more, he still finished as the leading local scorer for Ginebra. Still, he made his presence felt most heavily on the boards, where he recorded seven offensive rebounds to lead the team in rebounding and finish with a new conference-high.
Rhon Jay Abarrientos GIN PG 6 PTS | 5 AST | 2 STL | 22.1 FPS
Offensively, though Abarrientos has not been at his usual best in this series, he still managed to deliver, averaging 18.8 points through five games. In Game 6, however, he was completely shut down, shooting a rough 1-for-12 from the field and setting a new conference-worst in scoring. But with how well he’s played throughout the conference, he should be able to respond strongly in Game 7.
Roger Ray Pogoy TNT SF 13 PTS | 3 AST | 2 STL | 21.7 FPS
Since hitting seven three-pointers in Game 3, Pogoy has gone cold from three-point range, shooting just 4-for-21 over the last three games. Still, he managed to finish with another double-digit scoring performance. With several key players sidelined, Pogoy should continue to take on a larger offensive role for TNT.
Rey Benedict Nambatac TNT SG 3 PTS | 4 REB | 7 AST | 20.3 FPS
Nambatac continues to have a difficult time offensively, shooting just 1-for-5 from the field in Game 6 and finishing with five points or fewer for the ninth time in the playoffs. It wasn’t all bad, however, as he compensated by recording a conference-high in assists.
Earl Scottie Thompson GIN SF 8 REB | 5 AST | 1 BLK | 20.1 FPS
Thompson did what he does best in Game 6, finishing second on the team in rebounds and matching the team-high in assists. However, things remain difficult for him on the offensive end. He shot a dismal 1-for-6 from the field in this outing and averaged just 4.3 points over his last three games.
Nard John Pinto GIN PG 5 PTS | 4 REB | 1 AST | 10.3 FPS
Pinto made his presence felt in Game 6, contributing well on offense and recording a conference-high in rebounds. Though his minutes have been limited in this series, he showed that he can definitely help the team in many ways.
Japeth Paul Aguilar GIN C 8 PTS | 3-5 FGM | 1 TO | 7.0 FPS
Though Aguilar hasn’t quite played up to his usual standard in this series, he has remained a positive presence with his contributions on the scoring end. Still, the team will need a more complete performance from him if they want to win the title.
Jayson Castro TNT PG 3 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST | 6.6 FPS
This was a brutal outing for the veteran guard. Not only did he struggle offensively, shooting just 1-for-5 from the field but he was equally ineffective in other areas, finishing with three turnovers. Still, Castro has been a key factor for TNT in this series and he has more than enough experience to turn things around.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Stephen Jeffrey Holt GIN SG 5 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST | 11.6 FPS
Things have gone from bad to worse for Holt. Offensively, his struggles have become impossible to ignore, shooting just 2-for-8 in Game 6 and averaging just four points in his last three outings. Elsewhere, he was largely ineffective, contributing minimally in other parts of the game. The team will certainly need him to step up again if they want to win the series.
