Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings were successful in avoiding a 3-0 hole in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup finals.

The Gin Kings finally got on board, asserting themselves in Game 3 to secure their first win in the best-of-seven title series against the TNT Tropang Giga, 85-73, on Friday, November 1, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“Sobrang laking bagay sa amin ng panalong ‘to,” said former PBA MVP Scottie Thompson during the postgame press conference.

“Kung hindi namin nakuha ‘to, our backs against the wall coming sa Game 4. So, very crucial sa ‘min, laking bagay sa confidence namin as a team,” he added.

Only leading by one almost halfway through the payoff period, 68-67, the Gin Kings unleashed a massive 13-2 run, courtesy of Justin Brownlee, Maverick Ahanmisi and Thompson to pull away in the match.

Tim Cone’s wards also had pivotal defensive stops in the endgame — a block by Brownlee on a Glenn Khobuntin trey attempt and a steal by Ahanmisi, converting later on into freebies, which allowed them to take an 81-69 separation.

“Down the stretch, maganda ‘yung pinakita namin sa defense. Siguro ‘yun ‘yung key, and nag-end up sa offense, nakaka-shoot kami,” said Thompson.

Five Gin Kings tallied double-digit scoring, headlined by Brownlee who had 18 points. Ahanmisi also had 16 points, Thompson collected 15, while both Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt chipped in 10 markers.

Still, the Tropang Giga have the lead, 2-1.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson paced the losing side with a double-double of 24 points and 14 boards, to go with seven assists and four steals. (ABS-CBN News)

GINEBRA 85 — Brownlee 18, Ahanmisi 16, Thompson 15, J. Aguilar 10, Holt 10, Tenorio 9, Cu 3, Abarrientos 2, Devance 2.

TNT 73 — Hollis-Jefferson 24, Erram 12, Castro 10, Pogoy 10, Oftana 9, Khobuntin 4, Nambatac 2, Williams 2, Aurin 2.

Quarterscores: 20-19, 42-39, 62-59, 85-73.