No blown leads this time.

TNT displayed its composure as it avoided a dangerous 0-3 hole in the PBA Philippine Cup finals with an 88-67 demolition of Barangay Ginebra at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Friday, December 4.

Roger Pogoy answered the call for the Tropang Giga anew with injured teammate Ray Parks sitting out the second straight game after putting up 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 assists.

Pogoy set the tone on both ends, churning out 9 points and 5 steals in the first half that saw his side seize a 44-34 lead over the Gin Kings.

Squandering a 15-point cushion in its previous loss, TNT seemed to be on its way to suffering the same fate as Ginebra shaved its deficit to a single possession, 52-54.

But Jayson Castro, Jay Washington, and Ryan Reyes sank 3 triples to give the Tropang Giga a 66-56 lead going into the last frame, where they outscored the Gin Kings by 11 points for the lopsided win.

Troy Rosario issued his finest game in the finals for TNT with 15 points and 2 blocks, while Castro churned out 15 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals off the bench.

Simon Enciso fired 14 points in the win and Poy Erram contributed 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

“We really had to win this game – the important game for us – or else we might be swept,” said Tropang Giga head coach Bong Ravena in Filipino.

“But it is still the same. We just won a game. They won two games. Nothing to celebrate,” Ravena added.

TNT put the clamps on Stanley Pringle – who averaged 29.0 points, 7.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in the first two games – as it limited Ginebra to its lowest scoring output in the playoffs.

Pringle struggled to find his rhythm and scored just 11 points on a 4-of-14 shooting from the field.

LA Tenorio led the Gin Kings with 19 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while Japeth Aguilar had 15 points and 9 rebounds.

Aside from cutting their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 1-2, the Tropang Giga also bought precious time for Parks not to rush his return from the left calf strain he aggravated in the finals opener.

The Scores

TNT 88 – Pogoy 18, Rosario 15, Castro 15, Enciso 14, Erram 12, Washington 9, Reyes 5, De Leon 0, Semerad 0, Montalbo 0, Vosotros 0, Flores 0.

Barangay Ginebra 67 – Tenorio 19, Aguilar 15, Pringle 11, Mariano 8, Thompson 8, Dela Cruz 3, Dillinger 2, Caperal 0, Chan 1, Devance 0, Balanza 0, Tolentino 0.

Quarters: 21-26, 44-34, 66-56, 88-67.

– Rappler.com