By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings staved off elimination in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup after winning over the TNT KaTropa, 80-72, in Game Three of their best-of-five semifinal series on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Had their backs against the wall when they fell 0-2 in the series in the previous game, the defending champions Kings dug deep to finally break through in the series and keep their title reign alive.
Using a small ball lineup to start the game, Barangay Ginebra got off to a blistering start.
LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson led the Kings to a 10-2 advantage in the first three minutes.
It was a sprint they would use to build a 21-14 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The Texters came out the second frame charging, looking to make an assault at the Kings’ lead.
But the Kings would hold strong, maintaining a safe distance of 10 points, 32-22, midway into the quarter.
TNT though kept chopping away on Barangay Ginebra’s lead, coming to within four points, 34-30, with 2:50 left in the quarter on the lead of import Terrence Jones and Roger Pogoy.
The Kings survived the KaTropa fight back and stayed ahead, 42-32, at the half.
Troy Rosario would push TNT to a spirited start in the third, helping his team to narrow the gap to just four points, 44-40, after just three and a half minutes.
The KaTropa eventually tied the count at 47-all with 6:06 to go after a breakaway lay-up by Don Trollano.
Momentum swung back-and-forth the rest of the period, settling at a tied count of 57-all heading into the payoff quarter.
Barangay Ginebra opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run behind import Justin Brownlee and guard Stanley Pringle, pushing the Kings to a 65-60 lead at the 7:28 mark.
The score was at 67-64 and the Kings ahead with 4:30 to go.
A triple by Joe Devance after made it 70-64 for Barangay Ginebra.
TNT stayed within striking distance, 74-70, with less than three minutes remaining.
A lay-up by Jayson Castro with 1:44 on the clock further pushed the Texters closer, 74-72.
The Kings sued for time after to set up a play.
Mr. Thompson gave Barangay Ginebra more breathing space, 76-72, with 1:20 to go.
The Kings made it a five-point lead, 77-72, with 55 ticks left after Mr. Pringle split his charities.
TNT had its chances to narrow the gap but their shot attempts failed to connect.
Mr. Brownlee gave the Kings a point off the free throw line to make it, 78-72, with 32 seconds remaining on the clock.
Two more made free throws by Tenorio after put away the game for the Kings.
Mr. Tenorio led Barangay Ginebra with 16 points with Mr. Brownlee tallying numbers of 14 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks.
Mr. Devance was the other King in double-digits with 13 markers.
Mr. Jones, meanwhile, paced TNT with 24 points and 18 rebounds.
Mr. Rosario had 12 while Messrs. Castro and Pogoy had 10 points apiece.
“Well, we got one but obviously one is not enough. But the good news is we are still alive. We’ll take it one game at a time. That’s what everybody’s saying but that is really the case. Hopefully we get another one next game,” said Kings coach Tim Cone after their win that made it a 2-1 series.
Game Four of the series is on Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
