Ginebra overcomes twice-to-beat TNT squad, punches semis ticket

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel finally lived up to their “never-say-die” mantra and upset the twice-to-beat TNT Tropang Giga team, 115-95, beating them in two-straight games to claim a semifinals seat in the 2022 PBA Governor’s Cup.

The Tropang Giga squad just couldn’t figure out Ginebra’s balanced attack that torched them in all four quarters.

The silent LA Tenorio who only chipped in seven points in game 1, played one of his most efficient games of the season and erupted for 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

The duo of Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson also continued to become a nightmare for coach Chot Reyes and the Tropang Giga as they combined for 46 points.

It was TNT that actually led after the first quarter but Ginebra’s interior defense once again fueled them that sparked a huge second period run courtesy of Brownlee, Thompson, and Tenorio.

After the second period, Ginebra continued to score through their half-court sets while the struggling TNT shot the ball poorly and had sorry misses from the perimeter.

TNT trimmed the deficit to just 13 during the opening minutes of the final canto but another run from Ginebra pushed their lead again to as much as 23 points.

Ginebra’s defensive anchor and main paint presence Japeth Aguilar was a beast underneath, terrorizing JP Erram and Kelly Williams with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.

With the huge win, the Ginebra nation is back in the semifinals and will face coach Yeng Guiao and the NLEX Road Warriors while the Magnolia Hotshots and the Meralco Bolts clash in the other semis bracket.