TNT forces Game 7 against Ginebra with gritty Game 6 win

TNT refused to back down.

Facing elimination in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, the Tropang Giga fought off Barangay Ginebra’s closeout bid with a hard-earned 87-83 victory in front of 17,654 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The win forces a winner-take-all Game 7 on Friday, setting up a dramatic finale to the intense best-of-seven series.

RHJ takes over, TNT survives

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson delivered a monster performance with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, proving why he was named Best Player of the Conference.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson drives past Ginebra defenders in Game 6 of the PBA Finals. [PBA Images]

The former NBA forward took over in crunch time, making key plays on both ends, including two clutch free throws with 6.2 seconds left to ice the game.

“We told the players this is our first do-or-die game with Rondae, so this is a great opportunity to learn about ourselves,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said.

Nambatac and Erram step up

Aside from RHJ’s heroics, Rey Nambatac and Poy Erram made crucial contributions.

Nambatac scored 23 points, including a buzzer-beating four-pointer at the end of the third quarter that sparked a 13-0 TNT run.

Erram, who had a heated exchange with coach Chot Reyes in the previous game, redeemed himself with 14 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. His hustle plays and a crucial offensive rebound helped seal the win.