Ginebra vs TNT Game 1 Analysis: Key Plays and Turning Points That Decided the Match

Watching Ginebra and TNT battle it out in Game 1 felt like witnessing a classic chess match where every move mattered—except here, the pieces were real people, drenched in sweat and driven by heart. I’ve been covering Philippine basketball for over a decade, and I can tell you, some games just have that certain rhythm, that ebb and flow where momentum swings feel almost tangible. This one was no different. From the opening tip-off, you could sense both teams were locked in, but there was something about the way TNT approached the game that reminded me of that quote from a recent Gilas match: “It just seems to be that’s the way the game has been going for us lately.” Only this time, it was Ginebra who seemed trapped in that narrative early on, struggling to find their usual offensive spark.

The first quarter set the tone, with TNT jumping to a quick 28-18 lead, largely thanks to their aggressive perimeter defense and Jayson Castro’s veteran playmaking. I’ve always admired Castro’s ability to control the tempo—it’s like he has an internal clock that tells him exactly when to push the ball or slow things down. Ginebra, on the other hand, looked a step slow, missing open looks and committing uncharacteristic turnovers. I counted at least four possessions where they had clear opportunities to cut the deficit but rushed their shots. It’s one of those things you notice when you’ve watched this team over the years; when they’re off, they tend to force the action instead of letting the game come to them. By halftime, TNT had stretched the lead to 52-40, and you could feel the frustration building on Ginebra’s bench.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from following coach Tim Cone’s squads, it’s that they rarely stay down for long. The third quarter was where the real turning points unfolded. Ginebra came out with renewed energy, switching to a full-court press that disrupted TNT’s flow. Scottie Thompson, who finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds, was everywhere—deflecting passes, diving for loose balls, and hitting a crucial three-pointer that cut the lead to just 5 points with about 4 minutes left in the period. That sequence, in my opinion, was the game’s pivotal moment. TNT’s offense, which had been so fluid in the first half, suddenly looked disjointed, and you could see their confidence waver. It reminded me of that Gilas reference—sometimes, when things start slipping, it’s hard to stop the slide.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away decisively. Roger Pogoy’s clutch shooting kept TNT in it—he ended up with 24 points on 55% shooting—but Ginebra’s experience in crunch time shone through. With under two minutes left, Japeth Aguilar made a huge block followed by a fast-break dunk that put Ginebra up by 3, and from there, they never looked back. Final score: 98-94. Looking at the stats, Ginebra’s 42% shooting from beyond the arc compared to TNT’s 35% made a significant difference, but honestly, it was the intangibles—the hustle plays, the defensive adjustments—that sealed it. As someone who’s always believed that basketball is as much about mentality as it is about skill, this game was a perfect example. TNT will need to regroup quickly, because if they let this loss linger, that “way the game has been going” sentiment might just become a self-fulfilling prophecy.