TNT shoots for series end vs Ginebra today
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
ON THE VERGE of returning to the Philippine Basketball Association finals for the first time in over two years, the TNT KaTropa seek to take advantage of the opportunity and close out the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game Three of their best-of-five Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series today at 7 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Up 2-0 after an 88-71 victory in Game Two on Sunday, the KaTropa now go for the clincher against the defending champions Kings which would push them to their first finals appearance since the 2016-17 Commissioner’s Cup.
TNT dominated Barangay Ginebra for much of Game Two last weekend on the solid all-around game by import Terrence Jones and shooting, especially from beyond the arc.
The contest was knotted at 21-all at the end of the first quarter before the KaTropa cranked things up both on offense and defense and never looked back after.
Mr. Jones finished with 15 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, four blocks and two steals in their Game Two victory.
Jayson Castro top-scored for the KaTropa with 20 points, going 4-of-7 from three-point land.
Roger Pogoy had 18 points with Troy Rosario and Brian Heruela adding 16 and 11 points, respectively.
As a team, TNT shot 36% from beyond the arc, going 16-of-44.
“We’re just lucky that Ginebra had a bad game. We did not expect that as we were expecting them to come back stronger,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena after their Game Two victory.
“Next game our preparation will be the same, expecting a more determined Ginebra team with its back against the wall. But we will come out strong and prepare. There is nothing to celebrate yet. We have to go out and get it,” he added.
For the Kings, primary is to make the needed adjustments come Game Three, said forward Japeth Aguilar.
“They did a good job defensively. We couldn’t get anything from our offense. We have to be more assertive in the next game, assert ourselves and capitalize on every opportunity that we can get,” said the Barangay Ginebra big man, who ended up with 14 points and five rebounds in their last game.
Import Justin Brownlee led the Kings with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Scottie Thompson finished with 13 points, followed by LA Tenorio with 11.
