SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
Grit, Guts, And A Game-Saving Stop: Ginebra Edges TNT In Thriller To Even Series
Photo credit: PBA
Talk about a nail-biter. Barangay Ginebra showed heart, hustle, and just enough firepower to grind out a dramatic 71-70 win over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. With the victory, the Kings leveled the best-of-seven series at 1-1, sending nearly 13,000 fans at the MOA Arena into a frenzy Sunday night.
Justin Brownlee put on a show, dropping 35 points and hauling down 11 rebounds, while Scottie Thompson delivered a near triple-double with 16 points, 12 boards, and seven assists. But more than the numbers, it was their grit and defensive tenacity that made the difference.
“They just showed true grit all the way through the game,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “We knew if we're going to have a chance in the series, we have to show that character and that true grit.”
After being stifled by TNT’s defense in Game 1, Ginebra flipped the script and put the clamps on the Tropang Giga, holding them to a mind-boggling four points in the second quarter—the lowest ever in PBA Finals history. By halftime, TNT had only 19 points, another Finals record low.
Still, TNT fought back. Down 67-56 with just over five minutes to play, the Tropang Giga unleashed a 14-3 run, capped by a pair of free throws from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, to take a 70-67 lead at the 2:31 mark. But the Kings refused to fold. Brownlee responded with a clutch four-point flurry to put Ginebra back on top.
The final sequence had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Thompson’s late-game turnover gave TNT one last shot at the win, but Ginebra’s defense held strong, forcing a miss and securing the win.
With the series now tied, both teams get a brief two-day breather before shifting the battle to PhilSports Arena for Game 3. Will Ginebra ride the momentum, or will TNT bounce back?
Justin Brownlee put on a show, dropping 35 points and hauling down 11 rebounds, while Scottie Thompson delivered a near triple-double with 16 points, 12 boards, and seven assists. But more than the numbers, it was their grit and defensive tenacity that made the difference.
“They just showed true grit all the way through the game,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “We knew if we're going to have a chance in the series, we have to show that character and that true grit.”
After being stifled by TNT’s defense in Game 1, Ginebra flipped the script and put the clamps on the Tropang Giga, holding them to a mind-boggling four points in the second quarter—the lowest ever in PBA Finals history. By halftime, TNT had only 19 points, another Finals record low.
Still, TNT fought back. Down 67-56 with just over five minutes to play, the Tropang Giga unleashed a 14-3 run, capped by a pair of free throws from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, to take a 70-67 lead at the 2:31 mark. But the Kings refused to fold. Brownlee responded with a clutch four-point flurry to put Ginebra back on top.
The final sequence had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Thompson’s late-game turnover gave TNT one last shot at the win, but Ginebra’s defense held strong, forcing a miss and securing the win.
With the series now tied, both teams get a brief two-day breather before shifting the battle to PhilSports Arena for Game 3. Will Ginebra ride the momentum, or will TNT bounce back?
Mar 17, 2025
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