Ginebra, TNT KaTropa battle for 2-1 lead in PBA Governors’ Cup semis
Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 7 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Ginebra
Meralco made the necessary shots during an overtime period filled with misses and survived Star’s last-ditch rally to escape with a 91-88 victory for a return trip to the PBA Governors’ Cup finals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jared Dillinger opened the extra five-minute period with a three-pointer, Ranidel de Ocampo scored a long jumper and Cliff Hodge drained a crucial triple late as the Bolts weathered the Hotshots’ resistance since the late stages of the third to complete a sweep of the best-offive series the hard way.
Rookie guard Jio Jalalon had his contested three go nowhere at the buzzer, triggering celebrations from the Meralco squad that entered the final stage of its ultimate goal of rebounding from its heartbreaking loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the finals of the same conference last year.
The Bolts will have a week off while awaiting the winner of the other semifinal series between Ginebra and TNT KaTropa.
Ginebra and TNT are tied at 1-1 heading into tonight’s third game at the Big Dome.
“We really had to gut it out, it was a hard-fought victory for us, but in the end it’s really worth it because now we get to move on to the championship,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, on his 19th finals appearance since a decorated career that began in the 80s. Allen Durham had 24 points, 19 rebounds and six assists, but failed to score for most of the fourth and the rest of the overtime period when Star veteran Raffy Reavis and Icelandic reinforcement Kris Acox shared duties in containing the reigning Best Import. Durham’s miss from the baseline at the buzzer ended regulation play at 83-all, but luckily Meralco made the key shots in the extension. Dillinger broke the tie with a triple, De Ocampo scored a jumper to make it 88-83 even as Star missed its first seven shots of overtime. Reavis scored inside to break the Hotshots’ drought, but Hodge launched a rainbow shot from the right elbow that made it 91-85 for the Bolts. Mark Barroca gave Star some life with a triple of his own, cutting the Bolts’ lead in half, before the Hotshots forced a jumpball after double-teaming Chris Newsome with 7.3 left. Star won the tip but Jalalon failed to connect at the horn. Hodge had 18 points and eight rebounds, De Ocampo made 13 points and seven boards and Dillinger hit 10. Barroca finished with 22 points for the Hotshots, who played minus Paul Lee who is set to undergo surgery on his left knee.