MANILA, Philippines – TNT KaTropa built a huge lead but had to weather a late charge by Barangay Ginebra to claim a 104-92 victory and secure the No. 1 seed in the PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.
Behind the game-long brilliance of import Michael Ammons and Jayson Castro, the KaTropa led by as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter, only for Ginebra to come roaring back behind import Justin Brownlee.
The explosive Brownlee scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and the Gin Kings came to as close as 10 points, 85-95, with still 3:14 left to play off a lay-up by Jervy Cruz.
Castro saved the day for TNT, however, draining a cold-blooded three-pointer that extended the lead to 13 points and took the wind out of Ginebra's sails.
Ginebra came to within nine points with 1:15 to go after two free throws by rookie Scottie Thompson, but TNT responded via a three-point play from Ranidel de Ocampo to make it a 12-point game, 102-90, with less than a minute left, and the Gin Kings would not threaten again.
"Both teams played to win naman today," TNT coach Jong Uichico said after the contest. "We just played a bit better."
Castro finished the game with 19 points and 10 assists, while Ammons had 24 points and 16 rebounds. Michael Madanly added 18 points off the bench, while Larry Fonacier had 14, including a crucial triple in midway through the fourth quarter that helped TNT hold off the Gin Kings.
With the victory, TNT wrapped up the elimination round with a 10-1 record and secured the top-seeding in the playoffs, where they will have a twice-to-beat advantage. They have yet to know who they play in the quarterfinals, however, as Phoenix and Rain or Shine will figure in a knockout game for the last berth on Wednesday.
"We don't know who we're gonna play, so we just have to make do," said Uichico.
Meanwhile, the loss dropped Ginebra to 8-3 and into third place, putting them in a showdown against the surging Alaska Aces in the quarterfinals. The perennial crowd favorites will also have a twice-to-beat advantage against Alaska.
Brownlee finished with 34 points, while LA Tenorio had 21 for Ginebra. But the Gin Kings got little help from their other local players and their bench. Japeth Aguilar, with 11 points, was the only other player in double-digits for Ginebra.
The loss also snapped Ginebra's four-game winning streak.
The scores:
TNT KaTropa 104 - Ammons 24, Castro 19, Madanly 18, Fonacier 14, Reyes 9, De Ocampo 8, Rosario 6, Williams 4, Rosales 3, Rosser 0, Tautuaa 0.
Ginebra 92 - Brownlee 34, Tenorio 21, Aguilar 11, Thompson 8, Marcelo 6, Devance 4, Mercado 4, Caguioa 2, Cruz 2, Helterbrand 0, Mariano 0.
Quarters: 20-18, 43-35, 78-66, 104-92
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