Three Ginebra players swarmed Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and forced him to a crucial turnover with 32 seconds left. Few sequences later, the TNT import saw the same defensive effort as he failed to get another clear look, this time for the supposed game-winner.

Head coach Tim Cone asked for more effort after Game 1. The Kings willingly obliged and bared their defensive fangs.

That, along with the old and patented Justin Brownlee magic, lifted Barangay Ginebra past TNT, 71-70, in a frantic finish in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday, March 16.

Turning the second game of the best-of-seven series into a grindout defensive duel, the Kings, who squandered a once 15-point lead, averted a huge disaster and avoided falling into a 0-2 hole all thanks to clutch baskets from Brownlee and two big defensive stops in the waning seconds.

Brownlee exploded for 35 points – none bigger than his last couple of points when he scored on a tough reverse layup to keep Ginebra within one and coolly sank two pressure-packed free throws with 46.9 seconds left.

But as huge as the crucial makes from Brownlee was Ginebra’s defensive stand in TNT’s last two possessions.

They first forced Hollis-Jefferson to a 24-second violation before Stephen Holt and Scottie Thompson both bothered the TNT import, enough to force him to an off-balanced shot at the buzzer – and much to the delight of the Ginebra faithful in the 12,925 in attendance.

Thompson provided support with a near triple-double of 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while Japeth Aguilar added eight points and eight rebounds.

Ginebra tied the series, 1-1, after coming out victorious in the contest that turned out to be the lowest scoring Finals game in 20 years or since San Miguel scored a 74-66 win over TNT (140 points combined) in the 2005 Fiesta Conference Finals.

A testament to Ginebra’s defensive brilliance was its second quarter effort where it limited TNT to a measly five points – the lowest points scored by any PBA finalist in history.

Though the defense allowed the Kings to seize control, they couldn’t keep a great team like the Tropang Giga down for long as Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy finally connected from deep to give TNT its first taste of the lead at 68-67.

They even enjoyed a three-point cushion after two Hollis-Jefferson free throws before Brownlee weaved his magic anew and brought the Kings home.

Hollis-Jefferson paced TNT with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Rey Nambatac had 14 and RR Pogoy with 11 in a losing effort.