MANILA, Philippines – TNT flipped the script on Barangay Ginebra and took its turn torching the nets with a hail of triples to level the PBA Governors’ Cup finals with a 116-104 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 16.

Although missing top gunner Roger Pogoy due to a finger injury, the Tropang Giga drained a finals record 21 three-pointers to tie the best-of-seven affair at 2-2 as they answered the Gin Kings’ hot shooting in Game 3.

Ginebra claimed a dominant 117-103 win in Game 3 after knocking down a franchise record 18 treys on a torrid 56% clip.

But TNT ruled the three-point battle this time, waxing hot early with 12 triples in the first half as they mounted a commanding 59-41 halftime lead before they settled for the 12-point victory.

Jayson Castro, Mikey Williams, Calvin Oftana, and Kib Montalbo buried four treys each for the Tropang Giga, while Hollis-Jefferson showed the way in scoring with 36 points on top of 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

On the day he got crowned the Best Import, Hollis-Jefferson also joined the three-point party with a conference-high three treys.

Castro came off the bench and fired 17 points, while M. Williams, Oftana, and Montalbo finished with 16 points apiece as TNT shot 48% from beyond the arc.

“We went back to what we do best. We know that if Rondae is there as a screener and we have proper spacing, we got shooters in the corners, we know that we’re going to get shots,” said Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa.

Justin Brownlee tallied 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the losing effort – a double whammy after missing out on his fourth Best Import award.

While Brownlee carried the fight for the Gin Kings, Best Player of the Conference Christian Standhardinger turned in a quiet outing after scoring just 10 points – his lowest in this playoffs – with 9 assists and 3 rebounds.

Ginebra remained within shouting distance at the end of the opening quarter, 23-29, before TNT pulled away off a blazing 19-2 start in the second period.

Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin made two triples apiece during that stretch as the Tropang Giga erected their biggest lead of the game at 48-25.

A surprise starter in lieu of Pogoy, Montalbo then ended the first half with a bang for TNT after converting a half-court buzzer-beater – a miraculous shot that encapsulated their scintillating shooting.

The Tropang Giga sank seven treys in the third quarter then broke the finals record of 20 threes they set in Game 7 of the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup against Rain or Shine off a pair of M. Williams triples in the final frame, 111-90.

“We had a lot of heroes tonight,” said Lastimosa.

Khobuntin added 8 points and Poy Erram pulled down 8 rebounds in the win that saw TNT welcome back big man Kelly Williams from a calf injury.

K. Williams, who sat out the last seven games, tallied 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal in 14 minutes.

Reigning league MVP Scottie Thompson backstopped Brownlee with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while Jamie Malonzo put up 17 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds.

The Scores

TNT 116 – Hollis-Jefferson 36, Castro 17, M. Williams 16, Oftana 16, Montalbo 16, Khobuntin 8, Erram 2, K. Williams 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Varilla 1, Tungcab 0, Marcelo 0.

Barangay Ginebra 104 – Brownlee 28, Thompson 22, Malonzo 17, Pringle 10, Standhardinger 10, Pessumal 10, Mariano 3, David 2, J.Aguilar 2, Onwubere 0, Gray 0, Pinto 0, R.Aguilar 0.

Quarters: 29-23, 59-41, 95-77, 116-104.

– Rappler.com