WITH or without Justin Brownlee, the battle in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals between TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay GInebra Kings is only expected to get even hotter.

Brownlee missed the last 18 minutes of Ginebra’s heartbreaking 85-87 setback to TNT in Game 3 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig last Wednesday after sustaining a fractured thumb in a dive for a loose ball.

But even without Brownlee, the Kings put up a brave stand before watching the Tropang Giga escape with the win on a backbreaking three-point shot by Rey Nambatac with 30.1 seconds left and the score tied at 82-all.

Ahead 2-1 in the best-of- seven series, TNT coach Chot Reyes reminded his boys not to get over-confident even with Brownlee a game-time decision.

“Nakita niyo naman how strong that team is. Without Justin, somebody else is going to step up,” said Reyes after the game.

“So I told the players we’re going to see the best of Ginebra even without Justin, we have to be at our best. I reminded them how strong and deep that team is.”

Last Wednesday, Nambatac’s crucial three-pointer and Kelly Williams’ defensive gem that forced RJ Abarrientos to a costly error and enabled Glen Khobuntin to deliver another basket proved enough for the Tropang Giga to escape with the victory.

Nambatac finished with 24 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, seven assists and five rebounds in 36 minutes of action.

Former NBA player Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added a near triple-double of 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 44 minutes of play.

Calvin Oftana contributed with 16 points and five rebounds while Khobuntin chipped in 10 points.

Brownlee still led the Gin Kings with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with six assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes of play before exiting at the 6:42 mark of the third quarter due to injury.

Scottie Thompson added 15 markers, eight boards, five dimes, and two steals while Troy Rosario and Abarrientos each have 13 points. Rosario also had seven rebounds.

Jamie Malonzo chipped in 11 points and four rebounds in a losing effort.

With Ginebra leading 82-80 at the 2:07 mark of the fourth quarter, Hollis-Jefferson tied the game with a layup.

And after a missed layup by Oftana, Nambatac drilled a crucial three-pointer with 30.1 seconds left to make it 84-82.

Moments later, Hollis-Jefferson intercepted Abarrientos’ errant pass, leading to a Khobuntin layup that extended the Tropang Giga’s lead to 87-82.

Thompson kept Barangay Ginebra’s hopes alive with a pressure-packed three-pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining, 85-87.

Aware of a looming intentional foul, Nambatac smartly threw a four-point attempt upon receiving the inbound pass.

The scores:

TNT (87) — Nambatac 24, Hollis-Jefferson 20, Oftana 16, Khobuntin 10, Pogoy 8, Erram 5, Aurin 4, Williams 0, Heruela 0.
Ginebra (85) – Brownlee 19, Thompson 15, Rosario 13, Abarrientos 13, Malonzo 11, J.Aguilar 6, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 3.
Quarterscores: 17-17, 42-48, 72-66, 87-85.

Game Friday:

(Ynares Center-Antipolo)
7:30 p.m.– Awarding of Best Import and Best Player of the Conference
7:35 p.m.– Barangay Ginebra vs. TNT

The results:

Game 1 — TNT 95, Ginebra 89
Game 2 — Ginebra 71, TNT 70
Game 3 — TNT 87, Ginebra 85
(TNT leads series, 2-1)

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya