MANILA, Philippines — A vengeful TNT came out with a lot of energy as it manhandled a lethargic Barangay Ginebra, 99-72 to move within a win from capturing the PBA Governors' Cup championship on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After making 11 of its first 18 shots in the opening quarter, the Tropang Giga upped the ante of their effort by unloading a huge 30-13 exchange in the next period, setting the stage for the first lopsided game in the Finals.
The Tropang Giga, who lost Games 3 and 4 after winning the first two matches of the Finals, regained the series lead, 3-2.
TNT can wrap up the Finals series and snare its second straight Governors' Cup title with another win on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings were just flat all game long as the 12,727 fans, mostly Ginebra supporters, watched in horror as their favorite team got its behind kicked.
"First of all, we had to keep our heads around and not panic," said TNT coach Chot Reyes after the game. "When ginebra won Game 4, before the series, if you tell me after four games, it's 2-all, I'll be happy. And I think this is important for us not to panic, so we can make good decision.
The outspoken TNT mentor said more than outscoring Ginebra, he noted that it's really the team's ability to go back to its true identity of playing defense that got them the big win.
"It's just our focus (on playing defense). It's been our strength whole tournament long," he said. "
(I told them) Let's just go back to what got us here, and that's just playing great defense."
TNT's solid defense held Ginebra to just 32 percent shooting in Game 5. The Tropang Giga also dominated the boards, 53-43, while limiting the Gin Kings to just 15 assists.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and played just 31 minutes as Reyes allowed his bench players to see more action to give his starters the needed breather.
Roger Pogoy also scored 16, highlighted by three triples, while Calvin Oftana had 15 and eight boards.
Reyes also paid tribute to veteran big man Kelly Williams, who surprisingly got to start in Game 5. The evergreen TNT slot man responded with 11 points and three rebounds in 15 minuets of play.
LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson, who earlier, was cited for his 2,000 career defensive rebounds, led Ginebra with 13 points each.
Stephen Holt added 10, while import Justin Brownlee failed to reach double-figure scoring after producing just eight markers on 3-of-13 shooting.