Kings, Tropa storm ahead to 2-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines — Halfway to the target.

Barangay Ginebra and TNT repeated against their respective opponents to open 2-0 leads in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last night at the PhilSports Arena.

Keeping the fire that they started in Game 1 going, the Gin Kings roared to a 119-106 follow-up romp over NorthPort to move two wins away from their aspired seat in the finals via a sweep.

The Tropang Giga survived a stormy finish without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jayson Castro before making it back-to-back against Rain or Shine, 93-91.

The reigning Governors’ Cup titlists, who took the opener, 88-84, appeared headed for a runaway triumph when they held a 93-80 cushion at the 6:22 mark of the fourth.

But as Jefferson fouled out and Castro limped out due to knee injury, TNT failed to buy a basket from there while Elasto Painters went on a late charge and gave themselves a chance to steal Game 2.

To TNT’s relief, its rivals missed the potential equalizer or go-ahead in the dying seconds.

Picking up from their 115-93 demolition in Wednesday’s opener which was fueled by a 32-14 third-quarter salvo, the Gin Kings wrested control early in Game 2, using a 17-5 windup to roar ahead, 35-22.

A forceful 33-17 outburst in the second canto stretched Ginebra’s margin to 68-39 – a lead that the Batang Pier tried in vain to overhaul in the final 24 minutes.

The 13-point verdict put the Gin Kings in position to get on the hill in the race-to-four contest with a third straight W tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Japeth Aguilar soared to a season-high-equaling 31 points as Ginebra’s locals did the heavy lifting this time.