The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings conducted a defensive clinic in the final 30 seconds to pull off a slim 71-70 triumph against the TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup finals on Sunday, March 16, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After seeing a 15-point lead evaporate, the Gin Kings came through with a pair of crucial stops on TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to seal the win and equalize the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
The Tropang Giga recovered from a brutal first half that saw them score only four points in the second quarter, and back-to-back triples by Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy gave them a 68-67 lead with just 3:57 to play.
Two free throws by Hollis-Jefferson gave the Tropang Giga their biggest lead — a 70-67 spread with 2:28 to go.
But Justin Brownlee responded with a layup to make it a one-point game, 70-69, with 2:05 left, and it became a defensive slugfest from there.
A Pogoy foul on Brownlee with 46.9 seconds left proved pivotal, as the Ginebra import knocked down both free throws to give his team the lead for good.
In the ensuing play, Ginebra forced the Tropang Giga into a 24-second violation, smothering Hollis-Jefferson with a double-team.
But the Gin Kings couldn’t seal the deal on the other end as Brownlee bricked a midrange jumper, and Scottie Thompson grabbed the offensive board only for his pass to be intercepted by Oftana.
That sequence gave the Tropang Giga 7.3 seconds to try and win the game, but the Ginebra defense again locked in on Hollis-Jefferson, who could only put up an ill-fated heave as time expired.
Brownlee was the hero once more for Ginebra, putting up 35 points to go with 11 rebounds.
Thompson put up 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven dimes, though he also had five turnovers.
Hollis-Jefferson had 25 points, but shot only 6-of-23 from the field as both teams bled for points throughout the contest.
Pogoy was the only other TNT player in double-digits, with 11 points on 12 shots.
Game 3 of the series is on Wednesday, March 19, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. (ABS-CBN News)