The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings are now one triumph away from clinching the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup title.
This, as the Gin Kings made a gutsy escape from the TNT Tropang Giga in Game 5, 73-66, on Sunday, March 23, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Trailing by one with around four minutes left, former league MVP Scottie Thompson granted the Gin Kings the lead for good with a jumper, 67-66, as star import Justin Brownlee made sure to expand that cushion — more than enough to secure the pivotal 3-2 lead.
The Tropang Giga were also silenced after Rey Nambatac’s freebies at the 4:25 mark, failing to convert baskets in attempts to make a run.
“Just truly inspired. We all know it’s a grind game, possession by possession,” said Thompson during the postgame press conference.
“We just don’t want to quit every game,” he added, embodying the team’s mantra of “never say die.”
TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Glenn Khobuntin and RR Pogoy still had last-ditch tries to inch closer after an RJ Abarrientos turnover with 25.2 ticks on the clock, to no avail as they suffered unfortunate misses.
But before that, Tim Cone’s wards trailed by double digits after two quarters, 45-35.
The Gin Kings outscored the Tropang Giga in the third period, 22-11, to claw their way back into the affair.
Brownlee finished with 18 points at an efficient 9-of-15 clip to go along with 14 rebounds and five assists, while Thompson also had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Big man Japeth Aguilar and another ace in Maverick Ahanmisi joined them in twin-digit scoring with 11 points each.
Hollis-Jefferson concluded with 19 points, although he shot poorly on the field, making only seven field goals on 26 attempts.
Nambatac also had 19 markers for himself built on three triples.
The Gin Kings have a chance to win it all this Wednesday, March 26, at the same Quezon City venue. (ABS-CBN News)
GINEBRA 73 — Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, J. Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0.
TNT 66 — Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Pogoy 8, Aurin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0.
Quarterscores: 17-24, 35-45, 57-56, 73-66.