THE PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals goes into a crucial Game 5 on Independence Day at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, with the series between TNT and Barangay Ginebra tied at 2-2.
Here is a preview.
BARANGAY GINEBRA VS. TNT
Series tied 2-2
When: Friday, June 12. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Winner moves closer to championship
TNT and Ginebra battle in a pivotal Game 5 where the winner moves one win shy of the title. The Tropang 5G tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2 after a 106-98 win in Game 4 last Sunday, avoiding a 3-1 hole and essentially keeping their title-retention bid in the mid-season conference alive. The Gin Kings remain in a very good position after the defeat as they have won the odd-numbered games of the finals.
Heading sparks TNT’s outside shooting
Jordan Heading had five of TNT’s 11 three-pointers in the Game 4 win, which was fortunate because outside of Heading, only Jayson Castro had a respectable percentage in the team after going 2-of-4. Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy combined for only 2-of-11 from three-point range. If they improve on their percentages, TNT will have a better shot at winning the game.
RJ, Scottie out to bounce back
Abarrientos finished with 21 points, well around his averages, on the night where he won the Best Player of the Conference award. But Abarrientos was limited to only four points in the second half, leaving Justin Brownlee to carry much of the load in that stretch with 17.
Scottie Thompson was hounded with foul trouble and had his lowest point total of the finals with only four on 2-of-8 shooting from the field. Thompson played for only eight minutes in the second half due to those fouls.
Veteran presence of ‘The Blur’
Castro has finally arrived in the finals, scoring 14 points and shooting 2-of-4 from threes in a Game 4 start. Castro gives TNT an added punch on offense as well as on defense as he has the ability to keep up with the cat-quick Abarrientos.
Offensive rebounds
Ginebra didn’t score any second chance points in Game 4, a first for the series in a statistical category that is usually the Gins’ strength. One of those that were limited off the boards was Troy Rosario, who grabbed just two rebounds in the loss. In total, Ginebra was badly outrebounded, 47-31, with TNT import Chris McCullough hauling down most of the rebounds with 14.
Three-point shooting absent
Game 4 was one of the lowest for the conference for the Gin Kings in terms of shooting percentage after going for only 5-of-21 from downtown. It was slightly better than their series low of 5-of-21 during Game 4 of the semifinals against Rain or Shine. Ralph Cu’s impact from the outside was missed by Ginebra as he has not made any three over the last three games, going 0-of-7 combined.
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