Ginebra will look to push TNT to the brink as the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals returns to the SMART Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Game 4 is set at 7:30 PM, with the Kings out to build a commanding 3-1 lead after taking control of the best-of-7 series with a 116-102 victory back in Game 3 last Sunday, which lured 18,607 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
That game saw Coach Tim Cone lean on a short rotation by utilizing six players, and it did wonders with Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt leading the way.
‘JB’ made 41 points alongside seven rebounds and seven assists, while the former no. 1 overall pick tallied 23 points as he powered their hot start.
Holt made his first six shots from the floor for 15 points in just the game’s opening period, coming alive after scoring just a point in Games 1 and 2 combined, which made him the center of online talk among their own fans.
Scottie Thompson then finished with a triple-double, while RJ Abarrientos found his mojo late. Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario were also as solid as they’ve been, leaving Cone beaming with pride at how his men showed up.
(C) PBA Images
“It was the third game in five days, and we played five or six guys tonight in heavy minutes, but they reached deep, knowing that this could be a pivotal game in this series,” lauded the league’s most successful bench tactician.
With two days before Game 4, many are interested in seeing how this well-rested Ginebra would perform. Cone had cited fatigue after their Game 2 loss, as both the crowd darlings and the Tropa hardly had any rest from the semis.
The Barangay will take all the recovery it can get, as the crew braces for another fightback by their rivals in what’s been the trend of this season.
Given their situation, the Tropang 5G are coming in as favorites heading to Game 4, according to the Casino Plus sportsbook. The Gin Kings are a +2.5 underdog, with the over/under in total points between the two protagonists set at 195.5.
Wagers can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Game 3 saw Coach Chot Reyes & Co. rally from 22 down and get within seven during the fourth. However, they uncharacteristically committed turnovers that spoiled their momentum and allowed the opposition to pull away.
Fans will be watching how TNT responds, especially Calvin Oftana — who, after dropping 31 points and 10 rebounds in their Game 2 win, got bottled up and only had two points.
“I feel bad sa team na hindi ako nakapag-contribute,” he said.
“Pero buti na lang may second chance, may ilang games pa. Makakabawi pa.”
