RONDAE Hollis-Jefferson carried TNT on his broad shoulders the whole PBA Governors’ Cup. The Tropang Giga turned to him once again in the most important game of all.
He delivered as usual.
Hollis-Jefferson was once again clutch for TNT, burying key baskets down the stretch as the Tropang Giga outduelled Barangay Ginebra, 95-85, on Friday to capture their second straight Governors’ Cup championship.
READ Rejuvenated Jayson Castro wins PBA Finals MVP at age 38
The Best Import awardee nailed back-to-back baskets to give TNT an 89-85 lead, an advantage they held on to until the final buzzer by stopping one Ginebra possession after another in the Kings' desperate bid to force a Game Seven.
Jayson Castro set up Kelly Williams for a lay-up with 1:20 left for a 91-85 lead, enough to put to naught the Game Six heroics of RJ Abarrientos for Ginebra and wrap up TNT's 10th PBA title overall after failing to take one last season.
Castro went on to win the PBA Finals MVP honor - the third of his career and his first in 13 years.
The Tropang Giga, who also handed head coach Chot Reyes his 10th PBA trophy, did it by winning the last two games of the series after it looked like the Gin Kings were on the verge of taking control by tying the series at 2-2.
They won Game Five in blowout fashion, overcoming the Gin Kings, 106-92, last November 6.
TNT seized early control of the finals, tabbing Game One, 104-88, last October 27 and Game Two, 96-84, last October 30.
On their way to the championship, TNT topped Group A of a re-jigged tournament format where the 12 teams were divided into two groups, with the Tropang Giga finishing No. 1 with an 8-2 win-loss record.
It dominated the playoff round, defeating NLEX in the quarterfinals in four games, and Group B top-seed Rain or Shine in the semifinals in five in a best-of-seven series.
Hollis-Jefferson finished like he always had all throughout the conference, with an all-around effort as he had 31 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in the win. He had 10 points in the fourth quarter that began with the TNT import scoring on a three-point play on a dunk, part of an 8-0 start, that tied the match-up at 74.
The last time Barangay Ginebra scored was in the 4:57 mark of the fourth when Justin Brownlee drained a short stab for an 85-83 advantage.
Castro added 13 points, six steals, and a steal that also came in the dying moments that helped TNT seal the title.
Abarrientos’ career-high in points went for naught as the Gin Kings failed to hold on to their 68-57 third-quarter lead in Game Six. Ginebra was still up, 74-66, at the end of the period.
The scores:
TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Castro 13, Pogoy 13, Nambatac 12, Oftana 8, Khobuntin 7, Aurin 5, Williams 4, Erram 2, Exciminiano 0.
Barangay Ginebra 85 – Abarrientos 31, Brownlee 16, Holt 12, Ahanmisi 9, J. Aguilar 8, Thompson 6, Cu 3, Mariano 0, Pinto 0.
Quarters: 21-16; 42-43; 66-74; 95-85.
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