TNT, GINEBRA 2-1 Games Each in Semis for GOVERNORS CUP Finals

The final conference cup of the PBA season this year is winding down in the playoffs semi-finals being played out in the last month of 2019. As the Governor’s Cup begins its decision on which two teams will battle it out best of seven, only two squads in the semis were repeat appearances. Both the Barangay Ginebra and Talk N Text have reached the semifinals of the Commissioner’s Cup. Now the TNT KaTropa and Ginebra are looking to elevate their previous semis match into a finals game by beating their respective foes. Ginebra has pulled away 2-1 against NorthPort in Wednesday, while TNT has done the same against Meralco Thursday.

ABS-CBN News has it that the Barangay Ginebra advanced in their chances to reach the 2019 PBA Governor’s Cup Finals last December 18 when they bested the NorthPort Batang Pier in a fierce triple-digit scoring game. Imports Justin Brownlee of the Gin Kings and Michael Quallis of NorthPort racked up big points, but the former’s 42 was more than the latter’s 32. With help from Brownlee’s squad-mates Japeth Aguilar and Jeff Chan giving 18 and 17 points apiece, Ginebra would secure victory 132-105 against the Batang Pier in Game 3, going 2-1 for the Finals.

On the other end of the ladder, the third Semis match between Talk N Text and Meralco played out the following day, December 19. The KaTropa too would push forth with two wins against the Bolts’ one, with Game 3 finishing 101-97. While Meralco was shooting strong, with Allen Durham giving 32 points for his team compared to TNT ace scorer Troy Rosario’s 25, TNT would successfully cut off any chances for the other side to exploit a 91-91 tie in the fourth quarter. First, Rosario would get a three-pointer to break the deadlock at 3:28 left. Then Jayson Castro and KJ McDaniels between them took a jump shot and tip-in to make it 100-97 in the last 35.9 seconds.

Both these teams can remember the frustrated progress of their campaign in the Commissioner’s Cup. TNT would beat Ginebra 3-1 in the upper-bracket best-of-5 semis, but would then be humbled 2 games against 4 by lower-bracket finalist San Miguel. This Governor’s Cup is their chance make up for that disappointment and hopefully block the Beermen from sweeping the 2019 season. Game 4 for the Barangay Ginebra and NorthPort is this Friday, December 20, with the counterpart game for Meralco and TNT on Saturday, December 21.

Image courtesy of Inquirer.net