With grit and guts, Barangay Ginebra dragged TNT to a low-scoring showdown Sunday, with Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson leading the way in a 71-70 escape win that sent the PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven finals back to square one after two games.
Brownlee produced 35 points and 11 rebounds while Thompson came through with 16 markers, 12 boards and seven assists as the Kings bounced back strong from a 95-89 loss in the series kickoff, squeezing through in Game 2 before a crowd of nearly 13,000 at the MOA Arena in Pasay.
"They just showed true grit all the way through the game," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. "We knew if we're going to have a chance in the series, we have to show that character and that true grit."
Stymied by TNT's lockdown defense in Game 1, the Kings struck back with their own gem of a defensive effort, limiting the Tropang Giga to four points in the second period and to 19 in the first half.
The Tropang Giga appeared to have escaped from the clutches of the Kings with a 14-3 salvo to seize the lead at 70-67 in the last 2:31 mark.
Sponsored content:
But the Kings regrouped and got back to work, going to Brownlee for a crucial four-point binge to regain the upperhand, then Ginebra stopped TNT in its last two possessions to seal the deal, reducing the series down to a best-of-five.
The two teams take a two-day breather before locking horns again in Game 3 over at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The Tropang Giga take their turn to rebound from a lethargic game marked by woeful numbers in Sunday's first half.
TNT was held to 2-of-22 field shooting leading to horrible four points in the second period, supplanting San Miguel Beer's five also in the second quarter in Game 7 of the 2019 Philippine Cup championship against Magnolia as the new all-time low in finals.
The Tropang Giga's first-half aggregate of 19 also replaced the 21 of Shell in a 64-74 loss to eventual champ SMB in Game 6 of the 1999 Commissioner's Cup finale.
Sponsored content:
After firing away 14-of-37 three-pointers in Game 1, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates were held down to 6-of-31.
Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy came alive towards the end, rifling in a trey each in succession, followed by two free throws from RHJ that pushed TNT ahead after a long, long chase.
But Brownlee answered with a clutch shot then the go-ahead charities.
Thompson committed a crucial error in the last nine seconds giving TNT a final possession with a chance to steal the game. However, the Kings made the stop, foiling TNT's bid for a 2-0 series lead. (SB)
