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A basketball player dribbling the ball in front of a crowd during a PBA game.

Ginebra downs TNT to move closer to semifinal berth in PBA Governors’ Cup


The Barangay Ginebra Kings took a step closer to clinching a berth in the semifinals after they defeated the TNT Tropang Giga, 104-92, in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings were in control of most of the game but needed some clutch shots from Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee to subdue the Tropang Giga and force a rubbermatch on Saturday. The winner of that match will advance to the Final Four.

Brownlee helped keep Ginebra’s season alive with his 38 points on an efficient 17-of-27 clip. He also had a booming triple that extended their lead to 10, 100-90, with just 1:21 remaining. The Kings’ resident import added 12 rebounds.

Christian Standhardinger

Thompson was all over the floor for Ginebra as he flirted with a triple-double, producing 23 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks. Japeth Aguilar added 21 points and seven boards.

Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, though, remains wary of TNT as he is all too familiar of what that team is capable of.

“They have our number and they have a real, good feel for what we like to do. Chot Reyes always has a good feel for what I like to do. He’s always been a tough strategist,” said Cone.

Aguilar sparked the Kings’ early breakaway, scoring 11 points in the opening period to propel the team to a 28-14 lead. It eventually ballooned to 19 before TNT came roaring back, pulling to within one, 70-71, after a Mikey Williams triple at the end of the third.

Ginebra, though, did not fold as Nards Pinto and Brownlee canned consecutive trifectas to push the Kings to an 82-75 lead. Later, Thompson added another long bomb before Brownlee’s to keep TNT at bay in crunchtime.

Aaron Fuller led TNT with 22 points and 19 boards while Troy Rosario came off the bench and chipped in 20. Mikey Williams had 19 markers but shot the ball poorly, making just six of his 18 attempts.


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