MIKEY Williams played the game of his life, scoring 38 points to lift TNT to the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup title with a 97-93 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game Six on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Williams nailed the pivotal shot of the best-of-seven championship series, banking in a three-pointer from the top of the key - his ninth of the game - to give TNT a 95-93 lead with 1:15 remaining.
That proved to be enough as the flagship team of the MVP Group held its ground on defense in two Ginebra possessions to capture its ninth PBA championship - and first ever in the Governors' Cup in franchise history.
Jojo Lastimosa also captured his first championship as a coach, doing so at the expense of his former mentor Tim Cone, who lost in the finals with Ginebra for only the second time - and first in an import-laden conference.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also had a superb showing, handing counterpart Justin Brownlee his first defeat as a PBA import in the finals stage.
Williams was later named Finals MVP after draining 9-of-18 from three-point distance - his last trey breaking the hearts of the Ginebra faithful.
READ: Mikey Williams named Finals MVP
The Gin Kings still had chances to tie the game after that Williams three, the TNT guard himself keeping the door ajar when he missed two free throws including an airball in his final attempt with 43.6 seconds left.
But Brownlee, playing for the first time after a bout of food poisoning, committed a turnover in the next possession, losing the ball in a drive to the basket.
Hollis-Jefferson had 29 points and 14 rebounds while also hitting two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to settle the final score.
Brownlee finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamie Malonzo had 21 including a slam that gave Ginebra a 93-92 lead, only to lose it again on that Williams three.
TNT closed the series by winning the last three games of the series.
The scores:
TNT 97 – M. Williams 38, Hollis-Jefferson 29, Erram 6, Oftana 6, Castro 6, K. Williams 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Montalbo 3, Khobuntin 1.
Barangay Ginebra 93 – Brownlee 29, Malonzo 21, Thompson 20, Standhardinger 16, Gray 4, Pinto 2, J. Aguilar 1, Pringle 0, Mariano 0.
Quarters: 20-27; 48-51; 77-73; 97-93.
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