The TNT Tropang Giga took command from the start and never looked back, routing the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings, 99-72, on Wednesday in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
With the win, TNT secured their third victory in the best-of-seven series, moving to a 3-2 lead after five games in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup Finals. The Tropang Giga bounced back convincingly from their Game 4 loss (92-108), setting the stage for a potential championship clincher in Game 6.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and RR Pogoy led TNT’s charge with 16 points each, igniting the team’s offense in the opening period. Hollis-Jefferson scored nine points in the first quarter alone, propelling the Tropang Giga to a 26-20 lead in the initial 12 minutes.
A pivotal moment came late in the first quarter when Hollis-Jefferson hit a three-pointer followed by a layup from John Paul Erram, extending TNT’s lead to six points with 54 seconds left in the quarter. Energized by the support of 12,727 fans at the Big Dome, TNT established early momentum with an 8-2 run that transformed a narrow 9-7 edge into a commanding 15-7 lead midway through the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Tropang Giga’s defense stifled Ginebra, holding them to just 13 points. Calvin Oftana played a crucial role with his inside presence and rebounding, helping TNT widen the gap to 35-20 with 9:14 remaining in the half. Oftana added 15 points for the game, reinforcing TNT’s dominance as they continued to extend their lead.
By the third quarter, TNT had expanded their lead to a massive 31 points, limiting the Gin Kings to just 15 points in that period. Hollis-Jefferson and Pogoy each contributed six points during this stretch, helping TNT control the tempo and keep Ginebra on their heels.
The Tropang Giga reached their largest lead, 84-48, early in the fourth quarter after a four-point play by Pogoy. Head coach Chot Reyes emphasized the importance of staying calm and making smart decisions to maintain their defensive intensity. “The most important thing is for us not to panic, and keep our heads around us,” Reyes said. “That allowed us to focus on our strengths, particularly our defense.”
The Gin Kings struggled offensively, with star player Justin Brownlee limited to just eight points and held scoreless in the fourth quarter. LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson led Ginebra with 13 points each, but it was not enough to close the gap. Despite Tenorio’s 10-point effort in the final period, TNT’s defense effectively shut down Thompson, Stephen Holt, and Japeth Aguilar in the game’s closing minutes.
With this decisive win, TNT now has a chance to secure their second consecutive Governors’ Cup title if they can overcome Ginebra in Game 6, scheduled for Friday at the same venue.
