SCOTTIE Thompson and Justin Brownlee made crucial plays in the endgame as Barangay Ginebra wrested the lead in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals for the first time by defeating TNT in Game 5, 73-66, on Sunday night.
Thompson carried the load during a decisive 8-0 finishing kick that also saw Brownlee come to life just in time for the Gin Kings, who overhauled a 10-point halftime lead to claim a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
READ Chot Reyes, Poy Erram get into heated argument in Game Five
By winning its second consecutive game of the finals, Ginebra moved one win away from beating TNT in the finals for the first time in its last three tries, going to Game 6 on Wednesday, also at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Thompson clustered six straight points that put the Gin Kings ahead, 69-66, before Brownlee, who only made one field goal in the first half, took over by making two consecutive baskets to put the win to bed.
Despite a cold start, Bronwlee still topscored for Ginebra with 18 points, while Thompson added 16 in a game witnessed by a crowd of 12,447 screaming fans, mostly for the Gin Kings side, at the historic Big Dome.
The Gin Kings overhauled a 45-35 halftime deficit against a TNT side that once again descended into chaos when coach Chot Reyes and big man Poy Erram figured in a heated argument during a third-quarter timeout huddle.
“It was the inspiration of Scottie that turned the tide for us,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone after Game 5.
Thompson made a short stab and a jumper that put the Gin Kings ahead, 69-66, then drew a big roar for a ‘kalawit’ rebound off a Rondae Hollis-Jefferson miss. That eventually led to a basket by Brownlee to increase the lead to five.
A runner by Brownlee with 50.9 seconds left was the final field goal of the match as TNT missed multiple attempts as the clock winded down.
Hollis-Jefferson had 19 points and 12 rebounds, but misfired in the end game and shot 7-of-26 from the field. Rey Nambatac added 19 points for the Tropang Giga.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 73 – Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, Ahanmisi 11, J. Aguilar 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0.
TNT 66 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Aurin 8, Pogoy 8, Erram 4, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0.
Quarters: 17-24; 35-45; 57-56; 73-66.
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