PBA: TNT grabs top seed with comeback win, send Ginebra to No. 3

TNT’s Roger Pogoy against Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Dragged in a tight end-game by an enemy also looking to gain top seeding, TNT turned to its foremost weapon late in the game and found resounding success.

Roger Pogoy scored 10 of his total 22 points in a blistering fightback down the stretch to help the Tropang Giga to a 114-105 victory over Barangay Ginebra, ultimately capturing the No. 1 seed in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

“We were behind most of the game, but we were not too far behind…,” said interim coach Jojo Lastimosa whose squad annexed an eighth-straight win in the tournament. “Guys made shots when they needed to, and they made stops when they needed to. That’s game.”

TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. –PBA IMAGES

Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson top-scored with 34 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikey Williams added 25 more to help TNT arrange a quarterfinal duel with No. 8 Phoenix Super LPG on Wednesday.

Calvin Oftana and Jayson Castro also finished with twin digits scores in the rally that overhauled TNT’s 14-point deficit and had the club finishing the preliminaries with a 10-1 record.

The Gin Kings got the goods from resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee, who finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Christian Standhardinger chipped in a near triple-double of 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, while Scottie Thompson scored just as much.

Jamie Malonzo added 15 while Scottie Pringle 10 more for the defending champions, who settled for the No. 3 seed with a twice-to-beat advantage against NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Opening the playoffs are No. 2 San Miguel Beer and No. 7 Converge in a clash set at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Magnolia, meanwhile, battles Meralco in the Wednesday mainer also set at the Big Dome.

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