By ADRIAN STEWART CO

TNT Tropang Giga moves closer to dethroning Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings with a 104-95 victory in Game 5 of the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, April 19.

With the Gin Kings threatening at 95-96 after eight straight points by Nard John Pinto, the Tropang Giga got eight straight points from John Paul Erram, Jayson Castro and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to surge to a 104-95 lead.

Hollis-Jefferson tallied triple-double 32 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, Calvin Oftana chipped in 20 markers as the Tropang Giga took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

Mikey Williams also made his presence felt with 15 points, including three outside hits, while Erram, Castro and Glenn Khobuntin knocked in 10 markers apiece for the Tropang Giga.

Also aiding the Tropang Giga to move closer to their third championship is the absence of Gin Kings import Justin Brownlee in the second half after battling food poisoning.

The Gin Kings were up by as much as 15 points late in the second quarter, but the Tropang Giga went on a massive run in the third quarter behind Hollis-Jefferson, Castro and Oftana to tie the score at 65-all.

TNT went on to take a 78-73 advantage via inside hits by Hollis-Jefferson and a triple from Khobutin, but Barangay Ginebra clawed its way back to cut the deficit to 79-81 after three quarters.

The Gin Kings were just behind 83-85 early in the final quarter after conversions by Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray, but a rare three-pointer from Kelly Williams and an inside hit by Castro gave the Tropang Giga a 90-83 edge.

The Tropang Giga’s advantage went up to 94-85 midway in the fourth quarter, but a three-pointer, three free throws and a fast break layup by Pinto followed by an inside hit by Earl Scottie Thompson pulled the Gin Kings closest for the last time at 95-96.

Christian Standhardinger had double-double 29 points and 13 rebounds, Pinto chipped in 18 markers, while Brownlee, Thompson and Gray had 14, 12 and 10 markers, respectively, close to being dethroned by Gin Kings.

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, Pringle 6, Malonzo 6, Onwubere 0, Mariano 0, J. Aguilar 0.

Quarterscores: 28-26, 49-61, 81-79, 104-95./ASC, WDJ