TNT KaTropa completed the job that was left unfinished two nights prior and dethroned Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 103-92, to become the first team to make the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The KaTropa orchestrated a stunning turnaround in the third quarter behind their stingy defense to frustrate the crowd-favorite Kings and secure a 3-1 victory in the best-of-five semifinal series.
Import Terrence Jones posted his fifth triple-double of the conference with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Troy Rosario had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Jayson Castro added 20 points to power TNT to its first finals since the 2017 edition of the midseason tournament.
But crucial in the third quarter comeback was Roger Pogoy, who scored all of his 14 in that period as TNT was able to overhaul a 67-58 deficit early in the period.
TNT forced Ginebra to just 3-of-15 from the field while turning the ball over six times in that quarter, resulting in an 86-79 lead the KaTropa held entering the payoff period.
And there was no sign that TNT was going to relinquish the driver seat as it forced Ginebra to play desperate in the final period before Castro delivered the knockout blow with a shotclock-beating triple for 99-86, 3:48 to go in the fourth.
“Swerte lang kami (We’re just lucky),” said TNT coach Bong Ravena, whose partnership with active consultant Mark Dickel resulted in the franchise’s 17th finals appearance.
Facing TNT will either be San Miguel Beer or Rain or Shine after their semis series was extended to a fourth game following the latter’s 112-104 win Wednesday.
The Beermen, who lead the best-of-five affair 2-1, try to end it on Friday at the Big Dome.
Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar scored 27 points apiece but Ginebra failed to sustain its strong first half, thus ending its bid for a second consecutive title in the midseason tourney. (JONAS TERRADO)
The scores:
TNT KATROPA 103 — Jones 24, Rosario 22, Castro 20, Pogoy 14, Heruela 9, Reyes 6, Trollano 6, Taha 2, Washington 0.
GINEBRA 92 — Brownlee 27, Aguilar 27, Pringle 15, Devance 13, Tenorio 5, Thompson 3, Caguioa 2, Slaughter 0.
Quarters: 32-32; 58-62; 86-79; 103-92.
