SETTING THE TONE: Ginebra, TNT collide for pivotal 2-1 edge

Game today:

(Philsports Arena)

7:30 p.m. — TNT vs Ginebra

How important is Game 3 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup finals?

“It’s gonna be the tone-setter, obviously,” Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said.

Feeling a shift in momentum after scoring an equalizer the last time out, Cone and the Kings go for the best-of-seven series lead in Game 3 today as action swings at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Game time is set at 7:30 p.m.

Ginebra’s grit in the closing stretch led by resident import Justin Brownlee’s heroics prevailed in a 71-70 Game 2 escape last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena to level the protagonists’ second straight championship showdown this season.

Defense spelled the difference in the Kings’ first win over the Tropang Giga in their last five meetings starting from the final two games of the Governors’ Cup finals.

Ginebra effectively silenced TNT’s outside shooting after nailing 14 treys in the series opener.

The Kings limited the Tropang Giga to just four points in the second quarter and just 19 in the first half — the lowest in a period and in a half by a team in league finals history — also made two crucial stops in the endgame to preserve the victory.

However, Cone is aware that TNT will make its adjustments to bounce back.

“We’ll see what happens in Game 3 if we can continue (defending well and winning),” said Cone, who is seeking a 26th title in the PBA.

“RHJ (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) is gonna have adjustments to it. (TNT coach) Chot (Reyes) is one of the most brilliant adjustment coaches I’ve ever been around. There’s gonna be an adjustment there,” he added.

Brownlee, a three-time Best Import winner, had 34 points last game but only Scottie Thompson scored in double-figures among the locals with 16.

Cone, known to play a lean rotation, expects more from the locals especially rookie RJ Abarrientos, who after a great semifinal showing is nowhere to be found in Game 2 with just a single point after putting up 13 markers in the opener.

“But I also think we have a chance to play a little better offensively. We can shoot the ball a little bit better than we did. We need to get RJ (Abarrientos) on track. I think that’s gonna be really important for us to get RJ on track offensively. If we can do that, we can squeak out another game in Game 3,” the current Gilas Pilipinas mentor said.

“It isn’t gonna be a game that’s gonna be in the 120s or 110s or 100s. This game’s gonna be more of 90s and 80s at most. Sometimes, like tonight (Game 2) in the 70s,” Cone added about how he plans to keep the game to a low-scoring one to better their chances of winning.

But TNT, especially Hollis-Jefferson, is determined to rebound from the loss.

Hollis-Jefferson made two crucial blunders late in Game 2 when he failed to get a shot off their last possessions. He got caught up in a double-team as TNT was called for a 24-second violation and then again got tangled in a three-man defense as time expired.

“That’s something I want to get better at or grow from it. You know, I’ll watch it. I’m not afraid to see where I messed up, where I made a mistake,” Hollis-Jefferson admitted.

“Hopefully, Chot calls me out on it. I’m good with that, so it’s all about getting better.”

The Tropang Giga, sorely missing injured stabilizer Jayson Castro, must also learn to keep their cool and stay focused on the game. Emotions got the best of them in Game 2 which left a crack on the wall inside their dugout.

Temperamental big man Poy Erram was seen kicking the team’s beverage jugs and bottles as he bolted out of the court after getting called for a foul and receiving an earful from Reyes late in the third. He proceeded to the locker room and vented his ire on a suitcase outside their dugout before heading inside to “cool down.”

Game 4 will be played at the Ynares Center in Antipolo before the rest of the playdates shift at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.