TNT squeaks past Barangay Ginebra for sixth straight win

TNT escaped Barangay Ginebra, 91-86, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Friday at the Philsports Arena.

The Tropang Giga extended their winning streak to six as they improved to 6-2, while Barangay Ginebra slipped to 6-4.

TNT had the lead 89-80 with less than two minutes left before Justin Brownlee tried to mount a comeback for Barangay Ginebra.

Brownlee completed a four-point play at the 1:01 mark before scoring another basket to inch closer, 89-86. However, Calvin Oftana's freebies late after a Scottie Thompson foul sealed the victory for the Tropang Giga.

Barangay Ginebra held a slim 86-85 lead at the end of the first half.

"In a lot of ways, Ginebra has so many weapons, we basically just to pick our poison. We had a 10-point lead in the last four minutes and it wasn't safe," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said.

"For us to just do our best and defend their main weapons Justin, Troy, and Stephen hit those three-pointers in the corner down the stretch. Like I said, we defend somebody, we're bound to leave somebody open. Those are the tradeoffs that we have to make, luckily we won in those tradeoffs, that's what happened."

Calvin Oftana led TNT with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and an assist, while import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 25 points on top of 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block.

Brownlee, meanwhile, had 20 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and one block, while Holt had 18 points for Barangay Ginebra.

Scores:

TNT 91 – Oftana 32, Hollis-Jefferson 25, Erram 10, Castro 9, Pogoy 6, Razon 3, Aurin 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, K.Williams 0, Heruela 0.

Barangay Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 20, Holt 18, Rosario 16, Thompson 9, Abarrientos 8, J.Aguilar 7, Malonzo 6, Ahanmisi 2.

Quarters:  22-25, 45-46, 68-64, 91-86.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News