MANILA, Philippines – Another championship duel against Barangay Ginebra still yielded the same result for TNT.
The Tropang Giga reasserted their mastery over the Gin Kings and ruled the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after a dramatic 87-83 overtime escape in the winner-take-all Game 7 at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, March 28.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson won his third title with TNT, churning out 25 points and 12 rebounds in the rubber match as the Tropang Giga claimed their second straight crown and remained on track for a rare Grand Slam before a mammoth crowd of 21,274.
But it was the locals who took charge in overtime, with Glenn Khobuntin surprisingly coming through the clutch as Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana also giving TNT a big lift.
Ginebra still had a chance to force another extra period as Justin Brownlee — who knocked in a cold-blooded three with 16.7 seconds left in the fourth, 79-79, to forge overtime — missed a potential game-tying four-point shot.
Nambatac, who backstopped Hollis-Jefferson with 22 points, captured the Finals MVP after averaging 17.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the tight finals series.
Khobuntin emerged as TNT’s Game 7 wild card, knocking in 10 of his 14 points in crucial stretches in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Also topping the Governors’ Cup behind Hollis-Jefferson earlier this season, TNT captured its 11th championship in franchise history, with head coach Chot Reyes also having as many titles.
The win marked the third consecutive time the Tropang Giga beat Ginebra in the finals — a streak that started when they also beat the Gin Kings for the 2023 Governors’ Cup throne. – Rappler.com