By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE TNT KaTropa are back in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association after closing out the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in their best-of-five Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series with a 103-92 victory in Game Four on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Engaged in another nip-and-tuck affair by the Kings, the KaTropa showed strong resolve and composure and laser focus to withstand the tough challenge presented by the erstwhile defending champions, punctuated by a strong push in the end on their way to the victory.
The win thrust TNT to its first finals appearance since the 2016-17 Commissioner’s Cup and positioned itself for a shot at getting its first PBA title since 2015.
Import Terrence Jones led TNT in the victory with a triple-double of 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
Troy Rosario had 22 points and 11 rebounds while Jayson Castro finished with 20 points and Roger Pogoy 14.
Justin Brownlee had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, with Japeth Aguilar also having 27 points for Barangay Ginebra.
The Kings were within striking distance with 10:46 to go in the fourth period, down by just five points, 86-81.
TNT then went on a 17-5 run in the next eight minutes, a sprint that turned out to be telling as Barangay Ginebra could not recover from it amd bowed to the defeat and saw its reign as champion end.
“We just kept our focus and we’re happy we got the win and be back in the finals. It has been a while since we were last in the finals and hopefully we could get another championship,” said Mr. Castro, named player of the game, after their Game Four win.
The Texters now await the winner of the other semifinal series between the San Miguel Beermen and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, which hits Game Four on Friday with the Beermen ahead in the race, 2-1.
The Commissioner’s Cup finals will be a best-of-seven series.
