The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel retook the series lead with a juggernaut of a win in Game 3. Will the Barangay move a win closer to snatching the title? Or, will the TNT Tropang Giga even it all up again?

Catch this game live on Sunday, April 16 at 6:00 pm, Manila time.

TNT Tropang Giga (1-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Mikey Williams
• SG: RR Pogoy
• SF: Glenn Khobuntin
• PF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• C: PoyErram

The Tropang Giga were outgunned in a shootout in Game 3, as they ended up losing to Ginebra 117-103. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson once again stuffed the stat sheets with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, while Mikey Williams led the TNT locals with 19 points, but they had plus/minuses of minus-15 and minus-20, respectively. 

The offense is always going to be there for TNT, but it appears that defense will determine the team’s fate in this series. In Game 2, TNT held Ginebra to just 35 FG% and 7/29 (24%) from behind the arc. In Game 3, Ginebra shot 55 FG% and drained an insane total of 18 3-pointers on 32 attempts from deep for a 3-point success rate of 56%. That kind of ridiculous outside shooting is so hard to sustain, so TNT can expect the Barangay’s sniping accuracy to regress in Game 4. 

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-1)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Scottie Thompson
• SG: Stanley Pringle
• SF: Jamie Malonzo
• PF: Justin Brownlee
• C: Christian Standhardinger

Stanley Pringle reminded everyone that he’s still a lethal offensive weapon. Pringle exploded for 31 points in Game 3 on the strength of an immaculate 6/6 shooting from the 3-point area and 7/7 from the field overall. As mentioned earlier, the Barangay traumatized TNT with their incredible perimeter shooting. Although that’s a feat difficult to duplicate in Game 4, that’s enough to keep TNT’s defense honest and the floor spaced out for Ginebra when it has the ball at least in the early goings of this weekend’s contest. 

Christian Standhardinger also continues to be automatic inside the arc for the Barangay, who had 43 field goals made on 27 assists. Scottie Thompson scored 18 points and dropped 10 dimes in Game 2 while Justin Brownlee and Standhardinger each had five assist. This is a Ginebra team that can crush TNT’s defense with its unselfishness with the ball and seemingly unmatched chemistry.

PREDICTION:

Spread: It’s Sunday. Ginebra (+3) covers.

Over/Under: The total (206.0) hits the Under.