TNT stays cautious as Ginebra keeps thumb, er, fingers crossed
TNT coach Chot Reyes knows that Barangay Ginebra could use Justin Brownlee’s injury as a rallying point.
“Exactly,” Reyes said as his team tries to take a commanding 3-1 lead when Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is played Friday. “This is not over by any means. We have to make sure that we’re ready.”
Brownlee is listed as doubtful to play in the 7:30 p.m. contest at Ynares Center in Antipolo City, but Ginebra coach Tim Cone is not ruling out the possibility of seeing the beloved import on the floor.
The longtime reinforcement left in the third quarter of Wednesday’s 87-85 loss at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City with a dislocated right thumb, and Ginebra officials and staff painted a gloomy picture when Brownlee was taken to the hospital for observation.
“Justin is doubtful to play, but he hasn’t been ruled completely out yet,” Cone said on Thursday.
Brownlee’s unfortunate early exit gave TNT the advantage, but the Tropang Giga needed some gut-check performances from Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to squeak out a win.
And that’s what Reyes is worried about, as Ginebra is known to have the most unexpected players step up when needed.
“Even without Brownlee, we saw how strong and tight Ginebra is,” Reyes said. “Somebody else has to step up and they also rely on their ability to defend us in order to generate stops.”
Scottie Thompson, rookie RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario were among those who led Ginebra’s cause with an all-Filipino roster, even leading twice in the fourth.
But the Gin Kings couldn’t close it out down the stretch as the Tropang Giga got stops while getting three offensive rebounds during an incredible sequence that ended with Nambatac’s go-ahead corner triple.
“The intensity was there even without JB (Brownlee),” said Abarrientos, who was left to rue a crucial turnover after Nambatac’s trey that led to a Hollis-Jefferson steal and an assist for a Glenn Khobuntin layup that made it 87-82 for TNT.
“We really gave our all until the end. But of course, it’s a big factor when JB is not out there on the floor,” he added.
Nambatac is expected to build on his consistent showing in the Finals. His 24 Game 3 points, which is a career playoff-high, raised his scoring average to 16 in the series on top of three rebounds and five assists.
Those numbers have made TNT feel some comfort after Nambatac was given a big task of filling the void left by Jayson Castro, who is done for the season with a knee injury.
“I feel that I’m playing loose instead of feeling burdened with the huge responsibility,” Nambatac said. “I think I have overcome that pressure.”
Hollis-Jefferson hopes to once again pile some big production on his impending coronation as the conference’s Best Import, which will be announced before tipoff.
