Make it back-to-back PBA Governors’ Cup crowns for the TNT Tropang Giga.
Confetti rained down at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday as TNT overcame a spirited effort from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to win the title-clinching Game 6 in front of a 14,000-strong crowd.
And the two teams did not disappoint, playing arguably the best game of this series and going down the wire.
The Tropa, as has been the case for most of this best-of-seven, struck first, building the game’s first double-digit lead early in the second quarter behind Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Kim Aurin.
But Ginebra, who started the usually off-the-bench pair of RJ Abarrientos and Ralph Cu, countered right back in that second quarter behind some sizzling shooting from the third overall pick of this year’s PBA Draft. Abarrientos, largely held in check in this series, exploded for 18 points in the second canto on a variety of hits, from booming triples to kamikaze drives to the basket.
Thanks to Abarrientos’ fiery breakout, Ginebra took a 43-42 halftime lead after falling behind 31-21.
TNT Lands to Biggest Blows in the Second Half
Ginebra continued its strong fight back in the third as it looked to extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 7. This time, Stephen Holt came alive, as this Justin Brownlee, who scored eight consecutive points to end the third to give Ginebra a 74-66 edge going to the payoff period.
But TNT wiped that lead just two minutes into the fourth quarter behind the PBA Governors’ Cup Best Import, who started imposing his will as the Tropa looked to go for the kill. With the game tied, the two teams traded scores for the next six or so minutes—and they were still tied at 85 with three and change remaining in Game 6.
That’s when TNT showed its championship mettle, going on a championship-clinching 10-0 run to end the game and win its second consecutive PBA Governors’ Cup crown.
Hollis-Jefferson once more paced the Tropa with a near triple-double of 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists. Newly minted Finals MVP Jayson Castro came up big as well, chipping in 13 points and 6 assists in a no-relief fourth quarter. Abarrientos led the Ginebra charge with a career-high 31 points followed by 16 of Brownlee.
The Scores:
- TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Castro 13, Pogoy 13, Nambatac 12, Oftana 8, Khobuntin 7, Aurin 5, Williams 4, Erram 2
- GINEBRA 85 – Abarrientos 31, Brownlee 16, Holt 12, Ahanmisi 9, J.Aguilar 8, Thompson 6, Cu 3
