MANILA, Philippines – TNT Tropang Giga took full advantage of Justin Brownlee’s injury absence, edging out Ginebra in a nail-biting 87-85 victory to seize a crucial 2-1 series lead on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
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| "StingRey For The Win! Rey Nambatac sinks a clutch three-pointer to ice Game 3, propelling TNT to a 2-1 series lead. Photo Credit: PBA.ph |
Now that the series is back to square one, Game 3 is set to be a pivotal showdown, with the winner gaining a crucial physical and mental edge. After a heartbreaking one-point loss to Ginebra, TNT came out determined to bounce back, setting the tone right from the opening tip.
Calvin Oftana led the early charge for Tropang Giga, while Japeth Aguilar kept Ginebra in the fight. But TNT didn’t just excel offensively—their defense was relentless, forcing the Kings into tough, contested shots.
Midway through the first quarter, the highly anticipated import showdown ignited as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee began trading baskets. Brownlee, however, had the slight upper hand, willing his team forward in an attempt to keep pace with the surging Texters.
Locked in on slowing Brownlee down, TNT’s defense momentarily lost track of Ginebra’s locals, who capitalized in the final seconds of the quarter. With the Tropang Giga’s defensive lapses, the Gins clawed their way back to force a 17-all deadlock after 12 minutes of play.
Hollis-Jefferson, who had been on the floor since tipoff, gave TNT fans a brief scare when he crashed to the hardwood after colliding with teammate Poy Erram on an aggressive drive to the basket. However, the seasoned NBA veteran quickly shook it off, rising to his feet unfazed as if nothing had happened.
With two games already in the books and both teams having sized each other up, the second quarter turned into a battle of defensive grit. Surprisingly, the high-powered scorers from both TNT and Ginebra struggled to find their rhythm, resulting in a sluggish offensive stretch where the scoreboard remained nearly stagnant.
With under four minutes left in the second quarter, Ginebra finally broke through TNT's defensive wall, seizing the lead and never looking back. Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos spearheaded the offensive surge, fueling the Gin Kings’ late scoring run and sending them into the halftime break with a convincing 48-42 advantage.
A few minutes into the third quarter, Tropang Giga swiftly erased Ginebra’s lead and took control of the game. Rey Nambatac found his rhythm from beyond the arc, prompting Coach Tim Cone to call a timeout and regroup his squad.
After Hollis-Jefferson’s scare in the first half, it was Brownlee’s turn to suffer a setback in the third. The prolific import hustled for a loose ball, diving in pursuit, but landed awkwardly, injuring his shooting hand in the process. He was immediately subbed out to receive medical attention, leaving Ginebra fans holding their breath.
Despite Brownlee’s absence due to a dislocated thumb, TNT couldn’t fully exploit the advantage. While the Texters kept their lead intact, they struggled to pull away, allowing Ginebra to stay within striking distance, 72-66 heading into the final quarter.
Tropang Giga opened the final quarter without RHJ, who was sidelined after taking an accidental hit from Troy Rosario while contesting a layup. The former Brooklyn Nets guard ended up with a cut under the right eye but remained poised to return as TNT aimed to hold their ground against Ginebra.
Even without Brownlee, Ginebra found a way to take control, leaning on Scottie Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi, and RJ Abarrientos. The trio unleashed a barrage of three-pointers, igniting the crowd and keeping the Kings within striking distance as they fought to hold their ground.
With two minutes left and the game deadlocked at 82, the tension inside the arena reached its peak as every fan was on their feet. Both teams scrambled for a crucial basket, but multiple attempts rimmed out. Then, with just 30 seconds remaining, Nambatac stepped up and buried a clutch trey, giving TNT the edge in the closing moments.
Ginebra had a golden opportunity to force overtime but lost control of the ball, leading to a fast-break finish by Glenn Khobuntin. In a last-ditch effort, Thompson drilled a deep three to trim the deficit to just two with 2.6 seconds remaining. However, TNT kept their composure, melted the clock, and escaped with a nail-biting 87-85 victory to seize a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 is set for Friday, March 22, 2025, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal, where Ginebra faces a pivotal moment with their championship hopes hanging in the balance. As the crowd-favorite squad anxiously awaits the medical results of their star import, the pressure mounts for a must-win showdown.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
