The TNT Tropang Giga tightened their defense in the second half to secure an 87-83 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 38-42 at the half, the Tropang Giga opened the third quarter with seven straight points from Rey Nambatac, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Roger Pogoy to seize the advantage at 45-42.
The Gin Kings managed to keep the game close at 62-63, but the Tropang Giga started strong in the fourth quarter with baskets from Nambatac and John Paul Erram for the largest lead of 76-66.
Barangay Ginebra responded with a run from Justin Brownlee to cut the deficit to 79-80, but TNT answered with two free throws from Hollis-Jefferson and a split from Erram for an 83-79 edge with 21 seconds left.
After a split free throw by Brownlee, the Tropang Giga increased the lead to 85-80 on two free throws by Erram before the Gin Kings made their last push on a three-pointer by Earl Scottie Thompson.
Hollis-Jefferson then increased the Tropang Giga’s edge to 87-83 with two free throws with six seconds remaining before Thompson missed on a four-point attempt at the buzzer.
Nambatac finished with 23 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with five rebounds and three steals to be named Player of the Game as the Tropang Giga tied the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
Hollis-Jefferson top-scored for the Tropang Giga with 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Erram and Calvin Oftana contributed 14 markers apiece in the win.
“Credit to the guys because they give it their all; our players went out and they competed, and we finally scored 80 points again in this series,” said Tropang Giga head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes after the game.
“This is our first do-or-die game with Rondae, the first-ever win-or-go-home experience with Rondae. So I said to my players that it is a great opportunity for us to learn, so we just go out there and play hard,” he added.
Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists; Thompson and Rhon Jay Abarrientos added 12 markers apiece, while Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt ended with 11 points each.
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