REY Nambatac buried a clutch three with 30.1 seconds left as TNT overcame a shorthanded but hard-fighting Barangay Ginebra, 87-85, on Wednesday in Game 3 of the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Philsports Arena.
Nambatac’s crucial trey gave the Tropang Giga an 85-82 lead and eventually a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series against a Ginebra side that lost import Justin Brownlee to a dislocate thumb in the second half.
After Nambatac’s three, RJ Abarrientos committed a turnover that led to a Glenn Khobuntin basket for an 87-82 lead with 14 seconds remaining.
Scottie Thompson buried a three with 2.6 seconds left, but time wasn’t on the side of the Gin Kings as they once again found themselves trailing in the series after winning Game Two on .Sunday night.
READ Brownlee suffers dislocated thumb in Game 3 accident
Nambatac finished with 24 points, and the last of his five threes in Game 3 proved to be the dagger for the Tropang Giga.
TNT coach Chot Reyes lauded the resolve of his team in the face of a Gin Kings team playing inspired basketball with Brownlee out.
“It took our very best,” said Reyes. “We actually talked about it when Justin went out and I told the players, we are going to see the best Ginebra here. Even without Justin, we have to be at our best.”
“So I just reminded the players how strong and how deep that team is and not to let our guards down even with Brownlee out of the game.”
Barangay Ginebra managed to grab the lead at 79-77 and, the final time, at 82-80 until Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tied the ballgame before Nambatac’s three.
“I thought the key was when they went on a three-point lead in the last five or six minutes, we didn’t panic and we stayed calm,” said Reyes.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists for the Tropang Giga. He also shot better by hitting 8 of 14 from the field after going 6 of 23 in Game 2.
Calvin Oftana had 16 points, while Glenn Khobuntin had 10 points for TNT.
Brownlee still wound up with 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists before going down with an injury, while Scottie Thompson had 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the Gin Kings.
The scores:
TNT 87 – Nambatac 24, Hollis-Jefferson 20, Oftana 16, Khobuntin 10, Pogoy 8, Erram 5, Aurin 4, Williams 0, Heruela 0.
Barangay Ginebra 85 – Brownlee 19, Thompson 15, Rosario 13, Abarrientos 13, Malonzo 11, J. Aguilar 6, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 3.
Quarters: 17-17; 42-48; 72-66; 87-85.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
