A PBA title match made in heaven

By Robert Andaya

The results:
Game 1—Ginebra 122, San Miguel 105
Game 2—San Miguel 131, Ginebra 125
Game 3—Ginebra 99, San Miguel 94
Game 4—San Miguel 131, Ginebra 121.
Game 5—Ginebra 121, San Miguel 92.
(Ginebra lead series, 3-2)

Game 1:—TNT 90, Rain or Shine 81
Game 2:—TNT 108, Rain or Shine 91
Game 3:—Rain or Shine 110, TNT 109.
Game 4:—TNT 81, Rain or Shine 79.
Game 5:—TNT 113, Rain or Shine 95.
(TNT wins series, 4-1)..

A TNT Tropang Giga- Barangay Ginebra title rematch made in heaven?

This possibility — a dream for many avid basketball fans — looms after the Tropang Giga safely made it back to the PBA Governors Cup finals following a convincing 113-95 win over Rain or Shine at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The win — the fourth in five games in the scheduled best-of-seven semifinal series — enabled the Tropang Giga to finish off the Elasto Painters, four games to one.

More importantly, the Chot Reyes-mentored Tropang Giga gain an opportunity to defend the title they won  over the Gin Kings last year.

“We have to go back and make sure that we’re able to take advantage. There’s always two sides to this. You can dull or lose your edge, or you can use it as a good recovery and keep sharp,” said Reyes

“So it’s incumbent upon us now, the coaching staff and the players to use this to prepare as to whoever will be playing. Regardless, parehong malakas yun.”

As usual, TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson provided the leadership on both ends of the floor.

Hollis-Jefferson came through with 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals,for TNT, which also won Games One, Two and Four.

“We’re ready. All we can do for tonight is enjoy ourselves. We got a win and we’re going to the finals but that’s not the end for us, we want to be champions at the end of the day. So we know we got to do, take this rest and lock in, see who wins the other series and start that process,” said Hollis-Jefferson

Backing up Hollis-Jefferson were RR Pogoy (19 points), Kim Aurin (12 points), Calvin Oftana ( 10 points), Rey Nambatac (eight points), Poy Erram, (eight) Kelly Williams (eight) and Glenn Khobuntin (eight).

Earlier Friday, RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson combined for 50 points as the Gin Kings  battled back from an early 13-point deficit to roll back the Beermen.

Abarrientos came through with 28 points while Thompson added 22 for Ginebra.

Justin Brownlee added 18 points, Japeth Aguilar contributed 15 and Maverick Ahanmisi had 13 for coach Tim Cone.

EJ Anosike led the way for the Beermen with 21 points , followed by June Mar Fajardo with 17 points and 18 rebounds and CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter with 16 points each.

The scores:

First game

Ginebra (121)—Abarrientos 28, Thompson 22, Brownlee 18, J.Aguilar 15, Ahanmisi 13, Holt 9, Cu 4, Pinto 3, Adamos 2, Devance 2, Pessumal 2, R.Aguilar 2, Mariano 1.

San Miguel (92)—Anosike 21, Fajardo 17, Perez 16, Lassiter 16, Trollano 7, Ross 4, Enciso 4, Cruz 3, Brondial 2, Romeo 2, Nava 0, Tautuaa 0, Rosales 0.

 Quarterscores: 34-33, 63-50, 92-79, 121-92

Second game

TNT  (113)—Hollis-Jefferson 36, Pogoy 19, Aurin 12, Oftana 10, Nambatac 8, Khobuntin 8, Williams 8, Erram 8, Galinato 4, Heruela 0, Payawal 0, Varilla 0, Ebona 0

Rain or Shine (95)—Fuller 14, Nocum 13, Mamuyac 11, Datu 11, Caracut 11, Santillan 10, Norwood 8, Ildefonso 5, Belga 5, Escandor 3, Lemetti 2, Clarito 2, Villegas 0, Asistio 0

 Quarterscores: 28-25, 56-39, 90-70, 113-95