CHICAGO - Except for a couple of phantom calls that were whistled and eventually reversed, the officiating at the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals has been fairly decent thus far.
But security in Game Two on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena was horrible.
Apparently, an impostor who presented himself as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson somehow sneaked through the backdoor and onto the TNT locker room where he casually slipped on a No. 24 jersey.
READ RHJ won't mind being called out by coach Chot for late blunders
I am theorizing this because I'm at a loss for words as to why the always brilliant RHJ was reduced into a forgettable, mildly annoying DDT.
Dribble. Dribble. Turnover.
COSTLY INDECISIONS.
In the final 46.9 seconds of play when TNT had two bites to regain the lead, including in the last 7.3 ticks, Hollis-Jefferson stubbornly held on to the ball in the face of multiple defenders.
The real RHJ would give his dominant left hand for an assist. The fake one opted to play hero ball and got too cute with the rock.
Following Ginebra's 71-70 squeaker, this best-of-seven series is now tied at 1-1.
Besides his two late-game brain farts, RHJ threw enough bricks to build a beach house, missing 17 of 23 shots including a 1-for-6 clunker from 3.
Although he still finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and two assists, Ginebra's defense gave RHJ fits all night and he needs to do a better job of finding the open teammate when doubled or triple-tamed.
GINEBRA D SHINES.
Unlike Game One, where they trailed by 18, the Gin Kings put the clamps on the Tropang Giga shooters in Game Two and amazingly held TNT to just four points in the second quarter.
All told, TNT shot a horrendous 24-of-73 from the field (32.9 percent) and 6-of-31 from three (19.4 percent). The Tropang Giga also had 15 turnovers against just 12 assists.
But if you think Ginebra has now seized the momentum heading into Game Three, think again.
The Gin Kings offense didn't exactly resemble an elite team. They hit 23 of 69 field goals and went 4-of-22 from 3. They managed only NINE assists with 13 miscues.
Justin Brownlee was Ginebra's saving grace with 35 points including the last four that decided Game Two's outcome. But Jamie Malonzo continues to be missing in action.
The high-flying Fil-Am and Gilas soldier went scoreless in Game Two, an 0-for-5 egg that followed a porous Game One performance where he had just two points on 1-for-8 shooting.
The Kings need three more wins to claim the title. They ain't doing that with Malonzo playing the way he has.
Though shaken and stung, TNT has every reason to feel good for Game Three.
Their shooters can be cold but not frigid all the time. And at some point, the real RHJ will show up.
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