TNT, Ginebra square off in Game 3

MANILA, Philippines — The first two games of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals practically followed a similar theme.

One team got off to the races and created early separation but needed to fight its way out of serious trouble late against its rallying foe before pulling through.

That worked for Barangay Ginebra in the opener last Wednesday, 102-100. Next time around, it was TNT’s turn, 101-94.

And so for the protagonists, one of the main concerns as they head into tonight’s Game 3 tiebreaker before an expected large crowd at the SM MOA Arena is how to put together a silky smooth performance without letup.

“Hopefully, we can sustain a high level for 48 minutes,” said Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes.

“Against a team like Ginebra, if you just let your guard down for three minutes, they’ll get on a very quick run. Those are the things that we need to talk about, how to make sure that we’re able to sustain that kind of energy and execution all throughout the game.”

Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee gave a similar sentiment.

“I’m proud obviously of the effort coming back but we just can’t start the game like that. We didn’t play with a lot of fire from the start to probably the end of that fourth quarter,” he said.

Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone pointed to their flat start as well as what he perceived was “terrible” officiating as factors for their Game 2 loss.

“We didn’t get a break from the referees. I usually don’t complain, but tonight I felt the crew was not a good crew. Justin had four free throws. He took only three threes, stayed around the basket all night, but he wasn’t getting the call,” he said.

Still, Cone said the Gin Kings had themselves to blame.

“That came down to the fact that we just didn’t show up. Three assists in the first, zero in the second. That’s not just us,” he said.