NAMED the Best Import shortly before Game 4 tipoff, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson called on his TNT teammates at midcourt for photo-op, emphasizing "teamwork."
And they demonstrated that mentality during the game, working together and fighting together on the way to an emphatic 116-104 triumph over the stunned Barangay Ginebra side, forging a 2-2 deadlock in their PBA Governors' Cup best-of-seven showdown Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jefferson buckled down to work right after his coronation and was rewarded with an early rest, taken out with the Tropang Giga safely ahead at 115-99, time down to 1:49.
The six-year NBA veteran churned out 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals and got all the needed help from his teammates in the game watched by a crowd of nearly 17,000.
Jefferson and his teammates all played with tremendous resolve in another big fightback win in the series that is now down to a virtual best-of-three.
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The Tropang Giga and the Gin Kings clash for the pivotal 3-2 lead Wednesday also at the Big Dome.
Coach Jojo Lastimosa asked his chargers to play with an attitude that they don't want to lose, and each TNT player responded in the affirmative, including Kib Montalbo who was a "Magic "Bunot" ably filling in for the injury-hit RR Pogoy.
"I prepared for this moment," said Montalbo, hitting two big treys that helped set the tone of the match early for TNT.
The big-hearted guard finished with 16 points, including a Hail Mary three-pointer to close the first half, giving the Tropang Giga a 59-41 spread.
In the absence of Pogoy and Justin Chua, Lastimosa also tapped in to play Kelly Williams, and the one-time PBA MVP winner also had his contribution.
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Then there's the steady presence of gunners Calvin Oftana, Mikey Williams and Jayson Castro who fired 16, 16 and 17, respectively.
The TNT gunners strung up 21 three-pointers as against the Gin Kings' 15 - this advantage adding to the Tropang Giga's big successes on hustle charts.
Lastimosa's troops carried an 18-point lead over to the second half as they beat the Kings, 20-9, on points off turnovers. They also cashed in on second-chance points.
From a 23-point deficit, the Kings repeatedly tried to mount a rally but the Tropang Giga always had an answer, playing tough all the way to the finish.
Then there's a big blow for the Kings when Justin Brownlee picked up a fifth foul with 3:27 left in the third.
Still, Brownlee led the losing team with 28 markers. Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo added 22 and 17, respectively.
Curiously, Christian Standhardinger struggled for just 10 points on this night when he's awarded the Best Player of the Conference trophy. (SB)
The Scores:
TNT 116 - Hollis-Jefferson 36, Castro 17, M.Williams 16, Oftana 16, Montalbo 16, Khobuntin 8, Erram 2, K.Williams 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Varilla 1, Tungcab 0, Marcelo 0.
Ginebra 104 - Brownlee 28, Thompson 22, Malonzo 17, Pringle 10, Standhardinger 10, Pessumal 10, Mariano 3, David 2, J.Aguilar 2, Onwubere 0, Gray 0, Pinto 0, R.Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 29-23, 59-41, 95-77, 116-104.
