This time, it was the TNT Tropang Giga’s turn to shoot the lights out at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga unloaded a record-high 21 three-points in subduing the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings, 116-104, on Sunday night to take Game 4 of the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Conference’s best import awardee Rondae Hollis-Jefferson poured in 36 points, to go with 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals for the TNT Tropang Giga, who took charge in the closing part of the first period up to the final canto.
With 16,203 fans watching the game at the venue, Hollis-Jefferson unleashed gigantic efforts in helping TNT equalize the best-of-seven championship series at 2-all, and this gave the Tropang Giga a chance to move ahead in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Jayson Castro played able backup as he banged in 17 points while Michael Williams added 16 points, along with Calvin Oftana and JP Erram for the Tropang Giga.
Williams knocked in the last two of his four triples in the last period to complete TNT’s record of making the highest number of triples made by a PBA team in the game.
Last Friday, the Gin Kings shot five of their 18 triples at the halfway mark of the fourth quarter, enabling them to repulse the TNT Tropang Giga, 117-103, in Game 3.
“I think, what we did was do what we do best. If Rondae’s there as a shooter, and there’s a screener and shooters in the corner, we know we’re gonna get shots,” said Tropang Giga coach Jojo Lastimosa.
After taking a 29-23 edge in the first period, the Tropang Giga wasted no time in taking a 40-23 edge in the last 9:42 of the second canto from triple each by Oftana and Castro.
BEST IMPORT, BEST PLAYER
Meanwhile, Christian Standhardinger brought home the 2023 Davco PBA Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award.
Standhardinger became the fourth player to win BPC with different franchises after Willie Miller, Erik Menk, Calvin Abueva
The do-it-all Hollis-Jefferson beat out three-time winner Justin Brownlee of Barangay Ginebra in winning the award named after the late great Bobby Parks.
The former NBA player tallied 1,147 points as he emerged as no. 1 in statistics (619) and media votes (457) while emerging a close second in players’ votes with 71.