Scottie Thompson–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
It was Barangay Ginebra’s turn on Friday night to put an end to TNT and finally place themselves on the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals roster after a well-deserved win in Game 3.
And coach Tim Cone hopes the 85-73 victory in front of a large All Saints crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum is the spark they need for another stellar comeback that the popular franchise has achieved in two of its past title runs.
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“We’re finding escape routes and turning (the series) into a defensive battle,” Cone said after the lowest-scoring game so far in the best-of-seven series, which the Gin Kings still trail 2-1. after defeats in the first two games.
This time, Ginebra turned the tables on TNT, forcing Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson into controversial shots without giving him a chance to get comfortable, especially in the final seven minutes.
And in return, Justin Brownlee managed to score two decisive throws in the final despite his difficulties. He also received crucial support from the likes of veteran LA Tenorio.
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Brownlee finished the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds while also making key stops against Hollis-Jefferson in the closing moments, while Tenorio played his first game of the series and scored nine points in 16 minutes as a starter.
Maverick Ahanmisi also contributed 16 points and Scottie Thompson added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Hollis-Jefferson scored 24 points for TNT, but shot just 8 of 26 from the field, although his effort on both ends helped keep his team in the thick of the contest heading into the decisive stretch in the final chant.
And when the Gin Kings have a repeat performance at the same venue on Sunday, visions of the comeback effort that essentially spawned the “Never Say Die” mantra will surely appear on the horizon.
Robert Jaworski was the playing coach in the 1991 First Conference title series, where they trailed Shell 3-1.
But Ginebra refused to give up and used Games 5 and 6 to force a playoff, which Rudy Distrito won for Ginebra by hitting a difficult fallaway with a second left to go, securing the team’s third PBA title.
That was the biggest title series rally in the league before San Miguel rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Alaska in 2013.
Dante Gonzalgo, Chito Loyzaga, Dondon Amplayado, Leo Isaac, Rey Cuenco, Philip Cezar and import Jervis Cole were the other members of this legendary Ginebra team, while the great duo Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc remained to help Shell tackle the To join the problem is agony of defeat.
Second time it happened
Sixteen years later, coach Jong Uichico and Ginebra met his former club San Miguel, which was then coached by current TNT mentor Chot Reyes.
Reyes had Uichico’s old reliables in Danny Seigle and Danny Ildefonso as well as a strong squad consisting of Lordy Tugade, Rommel Adducul, Dondon Hontiveros, Dorian Pena, Gabby Espinas and a young rookie from Ateneo in LA Tenorio.
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San Miguel won Games 1 and 2, but Ginebra, supported by Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand, Rudy Hatfield, Eric Menk, Sunday Salvacion, Ronald Tubid, Mark Macapagal, Raffy Reavis, Billy Mamaril and Johnny Abarrientos, the conference’s best player, came back wins four times in a row. INQ