RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson completed a triple double as TNT moved on the cusp of taking the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup title after beating Barangay Ginebra, 104-95, on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Hollis-Jefferson compiled 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists while also delivering key shots late to give TNT a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship series after Ginebra lost Justin Brownlee in the second half.
READ: Brownlee leaves Game 5 due to food poisoning
Brownlee left the game late in the third quarter due to a bad case of food poisoning, leaving the Gin Kings without their import during the crucial stretch of Game Five.
Brownlee finished with 14 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
TNT quickly pounced on Brownlee’s absence and turned back one final rally by Ginebra to win for the second straight time and take the lead for the first time in this series.
Hollis-Jefferson had 10 points in the final quarter including four in a key 10-2 run that gavw TNT a 104-95 lead with 1:34 left.
TNT’s late push and Brownlee’s absence overshadowed the Tropang GIGA’s comeback from 15 points down. Ginebra held a 54-39 lead only to lose it in the second half with Hollis-Jefferson again spearheading TNT’s attack.
The Tropang GIGA erased that deficit with 12 straight points, with Hollis-Jefferson scoring six in that stretch.
“They actually outplayed us in the first half,” said TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa. “I said if we want to get back to this game, we have to have a little bit more effort. I think in the third quarter, the guys started defending well, executing well, and doing what we do best.”
Hollis-Jefferson also got some help from Calvin Oftana, who scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds while also converting 4 of his 9 threes.
Mikey Williams had 15 points, while Poy Erram, Jayson Castro, and Glenn Khobuntin each scored 10 apiece.
Christian Standhardinger had 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the Ginebra loss, which also spoiled the breakout game of Nards Pinto in the finals where he had 18 points, three rebounds, and four assists in a rare start.
The scores:
TNT 104 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Oftana 20, M. Williams 15, Erram 10, Khobuntin 10, Castro 10, K. Williams 5, Montalbo 2, Marcelo 0.
Barangay Ginebra 95 – Standhardinger 29, Pinto 18, Brownlee 14, Thompson 12, Gray 10, Malonzo 6, Pringle 6, J. Aguilar 0, Onwubere 0, Mariano 0.
Quarters: 28-26; 49-61; 81-79; 104-95.
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