Thompson delivers at crunch time as Gin Kings trounce Tropang Giga

MANILA, Philippines – It’s the most wonderful time of the year for Barangay Ginebra. 

Scottie Thompson made big shots down the stretch as he helped the Gin Kings zoom past the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-less TNT Tropang Giga, 86-78, to cap the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Christmas Day double-header at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

At the halfway mark of the final quarter, Jewel Ponferada gave TNT a two-point lead, 72-70, with a layup. 

The two teams then traded leads. A jumper by Calvin Oftana gave the Tropang Giga a 74-72 lead. 

Ginebra then scored seven straight points capped by Thompson’s layup to take a 79-74 lead. 

Oftana cut the lead to just three, 76-79, with 2:30 remaining off a layup. 

About a minute after, Thompson hit a 3-pointer to extend the lead to six, 82-76, with 1:35 left. 

Kelly Williams made a layup on the next possession to keep TNT alive.

Thompson, however, hit a dagger trey with 32 seconds left as he put the game out of reach, 85-78.

Christian Standhardinger had a full line for Ginebra, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Tony Bishop added 15 points, 12 boards and six assists, while Thompson had 12 markers, seven boards and seven assists.

Calvin Oftana had a game-high 27 points for the Tropang Giga, who missed Hollis-Jefferson due to an injury during an EASL game last week. 

Ponferada and Glenn Khobuntin had 14 and 13 points, respectively. 

Ginebra rose to 6-3 in the season, tied with the San Miguel Beermen. 

TNT dropped to 4-5.