PLAYING better defense will be the key to winning Game 5 of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup best-of-seven series between the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the TNT Tropang Giga.
TNT coach Chot Reyes said this after the Gin Kings pulled off a 106-92 smothering of the Tropang Giga to tie their finals’ series at 2-all at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
TNT and Ginebra clash at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
“It’s upon us to play better defense. Some of our guys who are on defense needs to step up. We hope that with better defense, we have a chance to lead the series,” said Reyes of his wards, who were unable to stop the two-pronged attack of Justine Brownlee and Stephen Holt.
Last Sunday, Brownlee wasn’t just the main concern of the Tropang Giga.
Holt, who was feeling sick in the first two games, finally came through with big baskets as he fired 18 points, including a big triple with 1:28 left to play, that allowed Ginebra to take the lead for good at 104-92.
Brownlee finished with 34 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal, while Maverick Ahanmisi churned out 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
On the other hand, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Tropang Giga with 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.
“Holt, he was defending Rondae the whole time, but he was still scoring. And so was Brownlee. The game of the two guys really gave us a problem,” added Reyes.
Coach Tim Cone commended the performance of Holt that evening.
“He powered through and continued to play through sickness,” said Cone on Holt, who was last season’s Rookie of the Year.
