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[av_heading heading=’Ginebra edges TNT, surges to 2-1 lead in PBA Govs’ Cup semis ‘ 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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MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings squandered a double-digit lead before escaping with a 106-103 win over TNT KaTropa in Game 3 of the 2017 Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinals last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Joe Devance led the way with 20 points, Gregory Slaughter added 19 markers, while reinforcement Justin Brownlee and Earl Scottie Thompson had 17 points each.
The defending champion Kings can advance to its second consecutive Governors’ Cup finals appearance if it will be able to repeat over the KaTropa in Game 4 of the series on Sunday night.
The Kings jumped to a 13-5 start on hits by Brownlee, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar but the KaTropa answered with its own rally courtesy of Glen Rice Jr. to take a 24-21 lead. However, inside hits by Thompson and Slaughter swung the lead back to the Kings, 31-26.
The KaTropa managed to come to within 35-36 after a trey by Frank Golla but the Kings pulled away on conversions from Tenorio, Solomon Mercado and Brownlee for its largest lead at 62-49.
The KaTropa then answered with a huge run in the third quarter from Rice and Jayson Castro to come to within 65-67 but the Kings increased its lead anew with hits from Slaughter, Tenorio and Mercado for an 85-80 lead.
The KaTropa had a strong start in the fourth behind Rice to snatch a 93-91 lead but a trey from Thompson and an inside hit by Devance tied the count at 96-all before the KaTropa then regained the lead 98-96 on a bucket from Rice.
The Kings countered with a 7-0 run on a triple by Brownlee and inside hits from Devance for a 106-100 lead. The KaTropa then trimmed the deficit to 103-106 after a trey from Rice but he failed on his last-minute heave that could have force an overtime.
“It’s a very great game. It came down to the last shot, but the job is not yet done,” said Kings head coach Tim Cone.
Rice finished with 44 points, 20 rebounds and six assists, while Castro added 17 markers for the KaTropa, which hopes to force a do-or-die Game 5 slated on next Tuesday.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 106 – Devance 20, Slaughter 19, Brownlee 17, Thompson 17, Tenorio 16, Aguilar 8, Mercado 7, Ferrer 2.
TNT 103 – Rice 44, Castro 17, Semerad 10, Williams 10, Rosario 7, Pogoy 7, Golla 3, Reyes 3, Seigle 2, Tautuaa 0, Nuyles 0, Chua 0.
Quarterscores: 31-26, 60-49, 85-80, 106-103./PN
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