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[av_heading heading=’Ginebra trumps TNT, avoids semis ouster ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, June 16, 2017
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MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings routed TNT Katropa, 125-101, in Game 3 of their semifinals last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum to stay alive in their 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
Import Justin Brownlee led the way with double-double 31 points and 11 rebounds for Ginebra, which forced Game 4 to be held on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Earl Scottie Thompson added 17 markers, including three triples, while Japeth Aguilar and Solomon Mercado contributed 15 and 12 points, respectively, as they look to their third straight PBA Finals stint.
Ginebra jumped to an early 19-13 lead in the match on three pointers by Brownlee and Thompson. TNT answered back with a rally to tie the count at 25, but Kings managed to pull away on baskets by Aguilar.
Early in the second frame, Ginebra were holding to a slim 38-33 lead when they unloaded a huge 15-0 run behind Brownlee, Mercado and Kevin Ferrer for a 53-33 edge. Katropa managed to trim the deficit to 10 points but Kings raised it, 61-47, at the half.
Kings continued their onslaught in the second half with conversions from Brownlee, Aguilar, Thompson, and LA Tenorio to build their largest lead at 125-93 on baskets by Jervy Cruz and Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha.
“We’re just happy to live to fight another day,” said Kings head coach Tim Cone. “The presence of Big J (Robert Jaworski) was a huge inspiration to the players. Hopefully this win starts our comeback in this series.”
RR Garcia top-scored with 16 points, while Moala Tautuaa and Harvey Carey added 15 and 11 points, respectively, for TNT, which was gunning for its first Finals appearance since the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup./PN
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