TNT draws first blood vs Ginebra in PBA Finals

By Robert Andaya

The results:
Game 1—TNT 95, Ginebra 89

First blood to TNT Tropang Giga.

With import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson doing it all, the Tropang Giga brought down BArangay Ginebra, 95-89, to taje the  headstart in their  PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

As usual, Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga’s balanced scoring attack as he erupted for  34 big points before a crowd of 11,802.

Hollis-Jefferson shot 14-of-29 from the field, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out eight assists while playing the entire game for TNT coach Chot Reyes.

RR Pogoy added 15 points all on from the three-point territory while Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac contributed 10 points each.

Oftana also had nine rebounds and four assists.

Kelly Williams and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in eight points  apiece while Poy Erram and Kim Aurin had five points apice.

Former PBA Best Import awardee Justin Brownlee  carried the fight for the Gin Kings of coach Tim Cone with 28 points on 11-of-25 shooting, 15 rebounds and six assists in 44 minutes of action.

Scottie Thompson added 17 markers, 13 boards and seven dimes while RJ Abarrientos contributed with 13 points and four rebounds.

Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar also added nine points each while Troy Rosario chipped in with eight points.

Labeled as underdogs following Jayson Castro’s season-ending knee injury, the Tropang Giga defied expectations.

They surged  to a commanding 55-39 halftime lead. Hollis-Jefferson dominated inside, while the locals– led by a scorching Pogoy from beyond the arc –provided ample support.

The Gin Kings mounted a determined rally in the second half, trimming the deficit to just four points. 

But Hollis-Jefferson sealed the victory by sinking two clutch free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining.

The Tropang Giga shot 37.8 percent  from beyond the arc, hitting 14-of-37 attempts, while the Gin Kings managed just 25.0%, making 7-of-28.

“We knew Ginebra will make a run in the second half so we reminded the players to stay calm and expect it. That team is too good, too strong, too deep for us to have that kind of lead all throughout,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

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.

Quarterscores: 29-18, 55-39, 80-66, 95-89