Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jayson Castro couldn’t contain their elation as the final buzzer sounded, signaling a victorious end to Game 6. Their jubilant roars were drowned out by the deafening cheers of the crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with their teammates sharing in the celebration.
But the impact of their performances in a high-stakes game was undeniable.
In a dramatic fourth-quarter rally, the Tropang Giga pulled ahead to defeat Barangay Ginebra, 95-85, clinching the PBA Season 48 Governors’ Cup title on Friday, November 8.
Although they had to battle back from a double-digit deficit in the second half—sparked by a fiery run from RJ Abarrientos—TNT remained composed, showing the resilience of champions. They outlasted Ginebra to capture the franchise’s 10th championship.
Hollis-Jefferson, who earned the Best Import award for the conference, put forth another dominant performance, nearly achieving a triple-double with 31 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists. He scored nine of those points in the critical final quarter, while Castro added his brilliance by securing a crucial offensive rebound and setting up Kelly Williams for a key basket in the game’s final moments.
Castro, a two-time Best Point Guard in Asia, wrapped up the series with 13 points and six assists, earning Finals MVP honors for his stellar leadership and all-around play.
RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac also made significant contributions, tallying 13 and 12 points, respectively. After allowing Ginebra to explode for 27 and 31 points in the second and third quarters, TNT locked down their defense in the final frame, limiting the Kings to just 11 points.
The Tropang Giga entered the decisive fourth quarter trailing by eight, 74-66, but Hollis-Jefferson led the charge with five straight points to narrow the gap. Nambatac then hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game, setting the stage for an intense finish.
As Abarrientos, who scored 18 of his 31 points in the second quarter to erase TNT’s early advantage, kept the Kings in contention, Castro and Pogoy stepped up to provide the support needed to push the Tropang Giga forward.
Back-to-back baskets from Hollis-Jefferson in the final two and a half minutes put TNT in the lead, with Castro’s perfect assist to Williams for a dagger shot sealing the victory.
Justin Brownlee gave his all, contributing 16 points in a valiant effort to back Abarrientos’ performance, but once again, he and the Kings fell short, as Hollis-Jefferson and the resilient Tropang Giga secured their second consecutive title.
