Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompsons throughout Sport 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals towards TNT Tropang Giga. –PBA IMAGES
Scottie Thompson has been Barangay Ginebra’s most constant native within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals—possibly even its silent operator, if you’ll.
However Thompson, as he has executed previously, lastly got here out with performs that 12,447 principally pro-Ginebra followers at Good Araneta Coliseum have been glad to see on Sunday night time because the Gin Kings moved on the cusp of savoring that championship feeling as soon as extra.
Thompson led a grind-out 73-66 win over TNT that put Ginebra forward, 3-2, within the best-of-seven collection after ending with 16 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals earlier than Justin Brownlee bucked early struggles whereas nonetheless nursing a dislocated proper thumb to knock down essential photographs in the long run as Ginebra was victorious for the second straight time.
READ: PBA Finals: Need to push Ginebra nearer to title fuels Scottie
TNT gained the collection opener earlier than shedding Sport 2 by a degree. A slender triumph within the third sport had the Tropang Giga main the collection for the final time.
And with one other win on Wednesday on the identical venue, the Gin Kings can lastly finish their struggles going through Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the Tropang Giga within the Finals and elevate a championship trophy for the primary time for the reason that 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup.
Tough night time for RHJ
“It’s been some time since we gained a championship and I simply wish to give my all,” stated Thompson.
Hollis-Jefferson endured one other tough capturing night time, his 19 factors coming from a horrid 7-for-26 clip which tremendously contributed to TNT’s downfall and the Ginebra pull-away when it mattered.
Thompson scored six consecutive factors, together with back-to-back off good good friend Calvin Oftana and Ginebra went forward 69-66 with over three minutes left. Brownlee, who will reportedly want surgical procedure on the injured proper thumb after the collection, then put the ending touches by scoring back-to-back photographs on his method to 18 factors.
The heroics that made up for Brownlee being held to 2 factors within the first half made Thompson’s constant play within the collection much more obvious, and stands out as the front-runner for the PBA Press Corps’ Finals Most Worthwhile Participant if Ginebra will get the job executed.
After Sunday, Thompson, Finals MVP within the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup and 2021-2022 Governors’ Cup, averaged 14.6 factors, 10.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals.
“There’s a lot Scottie does that doesn’t present up on the stats sheets,” stated coach Tim Cone. “It’s simply Scottie being Scottie.”
TNT’s loss regardless of a 45-35 halftime lead spoiled one other sturdy sport from Rey Nambatac, who can be a Finals MVP contender ought to his workforce flip issues round. He completed with 19 factors.
The Tropang Giga’s collapse was additionally highlighted by one other incident surrounding Poy Erram when he and coach Chot Reyes had a disagreement throughout a timeout huddle. INQ
