By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
TNT Tropang Giga played their hearts out and outdueled the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 6, 97-93, to clinch the PBA Governor Cup championship title last April 21, 2023, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Facing a laser-focused Ginebra squad that waxed hot early in the first half to grab a 12-point lead, the resilient Tropang Giga got a huge lift from superstar shooting guard Mikey Williams who exploded for a season-high 38 point-performance.
Williams halted Ginebra’s momentum in the second quarter when he had a barrage of three-pointers and acrobatic layup finishes to trim TNT’s deficit to just three points, 48-51, heading into the second half.
The crafty Filipino-American scorer wasn’t done doing damage and answered every Ginebra basket soon as the third quarter started. However, despite Williams’ offensive prowess, the Gin Kings’ signature never-say-die attitude rose to the occasion and turned the game into a nip-and-tuck affair the whole second half.
Both teams failed to establish a double-digit lead in the final canto as Ginebra’s resident import Justin Brownlee and TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson put on a show with a couple of bucket exchanges.
With six minutes remaining in the game and TNT clinging to a seven-point lead, 84-77, Ginebra once again uncorked an offensive run to cut their deficit to just a point, 84-83.
However, Jefferson converted a much-needed strong drive to the basket to keep TNT back into the ball game and avoid an 8-0 run from the Gin Kings.
Ginebra had their biggest momentum of the ball game after retaking the lead, 89-87, courtesy of a Jeremiah Gray leftie layup with 3:49 remaining in the game.
Unfazed and familiar with the PBA’s bright lights, veteran and steady point guard Jason Castro sparked the Tropang Giga with a foul-counted play for another lead change, 90-89, in favor of TNT.
Ginebra would continue with their blitzing offense as Jamie Malonzo was able to give the lead back to the Gin Kings after a two-handed slam, 92-93, but TNT was ready for an answer as the man of the hour, Williams, detonated a cold-blooded three-pointer that put the lead back to the Tropang Giga, 95-93, with 1:17 remaining in the thrilling Game 6.
The Gin Kings had a chance to equalize the game but Brownlee fumbled their offensive possession which turned into a disappointing turnover.
As TNT missed a layup when Jefferson’s reverse went off the rim, Ginebra was given another daylight to produce points but for the second-straight time, Brownlee missed the opportunity to score when his pull-up perimeter jump shot was too strong and bounced off the rim.
Jefferson was quick to make up for his reverse layup miss and iced the game with two clutch free throws for the Governor’s Cup championship.
The former NBA lottery pick backstopped Williams and turned in 29 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
“I’m greatly honored. Seldom do you beat Justin Brownlee and Tim Cone in this conference. They own this. They own the Governors’ Cup,” said TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa after the win.