The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
Game Friday: (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 5:45 p.m. TNT vs Ginebra
TNT Tropang Giga is now one win away from winning the PBA Governors’ Cup.
With NBA veteran Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leading the way, the Tropang Giga hammered out a pivotal 104-95 victory over Barangay Ginebra to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hollis-Jefferson, who was earlier named as best Import of the Conference, , had a lot to do with it.
The 28-year-old Hollis-Jefferson, who played for the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Portland Trailblazers in the NBA from 2015-2021, finished with 32 points on 13-of-26 shooting, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 47 minutes of action for coach Jojo Lastimosa.
Hollis-Jefferson’s supporting cast also stepped up for TNT, which is gunning for its ninth championship in 21 finals appearances since taking over the Pepsi franchise in 1990.
Calvin Oftana added 20 points and eight rebounds, Mikey Williams had 15 points, and JP Erram, Glenn Khobuntin and Jayson Castro chipped in with 10 points apiece for the Tropang Giga.
A 32-18 performance, including a 14-0 run, in the third period was all TNT needed to turn the game around.
Best Player of the Conference awardee Christian Standhardinger topscored for Ginebra with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting on top of 13 rebounds in 46 minutes.
Nard Pinto had 18 points for coach Tim Cone.
Justin Brownlee scored 14 points before sitting out with 7:19 remaining in the third period due to food poisoning.
Report said Brownlee was vomiting and dealing with a bad case of diarrhea hours before the pivotal Game 5. He was even put on IV on his way to the match.
The scores:
TNT (104 ) – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Oftana 20, M.Williams 15, Khobuntin 10, Castro 10, Erram 10, K.Williams 5, Montalbo 2, Marcelo 0.
Ginebra (95 ) – Standhardinger 29, Pinto 18, Brownlee 14, Thompson 12, Gray 10, Malonzo 6, Pringle 6, J.Aguilar 0, Mariano 0.