TNT leveled the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup finals after surviving a Barangay Ginebra rally, 101-94, in Game 2 on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Oftana had 31 points, preserving his breakout game after draining two free throws with 18.7 seconds left to escape the Gin Kings in a game that became close despite leading by as many as 21 points.
Oftana’s free throws made it a six-point game after TNT’s lead suddenly dropped to 98-94.
READ: C-Mac gets reps early in the Big Dome as he eyes better Game 2
Brownlee missed a four-point shot on the next play, and Chris McCullough split his two free throws, essentially sealing the win to tie the series at 1-1.
Game 3 is on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Tropang Resbak
Oftana’s offensive brilliance was a season-high as he and Chris McCullough set the tone by scoring eight points each, while limiting Abarrientos to a single point in the first quarter where TNT led, 27-12.
The Tropang 5G never trailed and even led, 81-59, before the Gin Kings made a rally.
“We kept reminding the players in the huddle when we were up big not to let their guards down because we all know the caliber that Ginebra has. They will always come back,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
McCullough bounced back from a scoreless fourth quarter in Game 1 to finish with 19 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Jordan Heading had 14 points including a three from the right corner with 2:35 left to increase TNT’s lead to 98-88 and give the Tropang 5G enough cushion.
Brownlee had 24 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Abarrientos had 21 points, but his offense only picked up in the second half no thanks to TNT’s stingy defense.
Jeremiah Gray had 13 points and Isaac Go had 10, and they combined for 19 in the fourth quarter to also fuel the Gin Kings’ comeback bid that fell short.
The scores:
TNT 101 – Oftana 31, McCullough 19, Heading 14, Pogoy 10, Nambatac 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 10, Castro 5, Williams 2, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0.
Barangay Ginebra 94 – Brownlee 24, Abarrientos 21, Gray 13, Go 10, Thompson 8, Rosario 6, Torres 5, Abis 4, Cu 2, Holt 1, Pinto 0, J. Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 27-12; 48-33; 78-59; 101-94.
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