Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — Barangay Ginebra are still alive.
Ginebra handled the TNT KaTropa, 125-101, in Game 3 of their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup semifinals clash on Thursday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Justin Brownlee paced Ginebra with 31 points, while Scottie Thompson chipped in with 17.
A blistering 19-0 rally saw Ginebra bolster their survival bid in the second frame, creating a 53-33 cushion with 5:54 left before the halftime break.
But TNT managed to go on a run on their own, but only managed to trim the deficit to 61-47 at the half.
After the half, TNT assistant team manager Magnum Membrere confirmed that import Josh Smith left the venue along with the team doctor.
Membrere did not give a definite reason why Smith had to leave.
Without Smith, Ginebra took control in the second half by outscoring the KaTropa 35-27 in the third period alone to lead 96-74.
There was nothing the KaTropa could do in the final period to overturn the Ginebra dominance.
R.R. Garcia led TNT with 16 points in the loss.
After the game Ginebra coach Tim Cone acknowledged that the prolonged absence of Smith made things easier, but reminded the press that his team wasn’t out of the woods yet.
“Bottom line is that we haven’t really done anything,” Cone said. “Our goal right now is to get this thing to Game 5.”
Barangay Ginebra have the chance to even the best of five series — now at 2-1 — with the TNT KaTropa in Game 4 on Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
