TNT made it three in a row versus Barangay Ginebra in titular face-offs and secured a second straight championship in PBA Season 49 in a continued proud march towards a possible grand slam.
Dragged to a full series further extended by overtime play in Game Seven, the Tropang Giga still emerged victorious and claimed the Commissioner's Cup crown in a follow-up to their earlier title run in the season-opening Governors' Cup.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Rey Nambatac were the lead guns while Calvin Oftana came through in the clutch as the Tropang Giga frustrated the Gin Kings and their cheering diehards at the Big Dome, pulling off an 87-83 cliffhanger to bag their third crown in the last five conferences and the 11th overall in franchise history.
With their back-to-back championships, coach Chot Reyes and his troops are in a position to go for a season sweep - or the Grand Slam - in the coming Philippine Cup.
Going to Season 50, the PBA has seen four Triple Crown winners in Crispa (twice), San Miguel Beer, Alaska Milk and San Mig Coffee.
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A roaring crowd of 21,274 witnessed the Tropang Giga hoisting their latest hardware with a win sealed by Oftana's big shot with time down to 6.3 seconds.
Actually, the Kings were still able to take a shot at extending the game into second extra time but Justin Brownlee, Ginebra's resident import with myriad of last-second daggers in the past, couldn't make it this time.
Thus, the Tropang Giga won one of the most well-fought and most gripping series in the history of the league, and kept their glorious run even with skipper Jayson Castro confined to the sideline due to an injury.
"My appreciation goes to our players, who really found a way. Talagang ayaw magpatalo and this is the result," said Reyes.
"Salamat sa Ginebra for teaching us how to play tough basketball. Salamat sa fans at sa players ng Talk 'N Text. This is a special team and a special group," said TNT governor and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.
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Stepping up big time on the absence of Castro, Nambatac was rewarded with the Finals MVP award.
The former Letran stalwart produced 22 points, including four three-pointers, in the fateful Friday showdown, and ended up with averages of 17.85 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
RHJ was his usual self, an all-around dynamo tallying 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one rebound to cap another Best Import and championship showing in Asia's first play-for-pay league.
The Tropang Giga looked on the way to winning the game right in regulation but Brownlee forced the OT on a step-back trey.
But there's no denying TNT of the crown, especially with Ginebra looking like a spent force in the extra play.
Brownlee piled up 28 points and 10 rebounds in leading the mere eight-man crew utilized by coach Tim Cone in this winner-take-all setto.(SB)
The Scores :
TNT 87- Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 22, Khobuntin 14, Oftana 10, Pogoy 9, Erram 5, Williams 2, Aurin 0, Heruela 0.
GINEBRA 83- Brownlee 28, Thompson 13, J.Aguilar 15, Holt 12, Abarrientos 8, Ahanmisi 3, Rosario 2, Malonzo 2.
QUARTERS: 22-16, 40-35, 60-62, 79-79, 87-83
