And then there were two.
The TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are the two teams left standing in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals. With the excitement about to reach fever pitch, here are four burning questions that may very well define this showdown between two of the PBA’s most storied ballclubs:
1. Will offense reign or will defense prevail?
It cannot be emphasized enough: This series is a classic offense vs. defense matchup, with TNT’s league-best defense (86.0 PPG in the elims, 89.4 PPG overall) looking to contain Ginebra’s offense (115 PPG in the semis, 101.8 PPG in the elims). Just to underscore how good that Tropa D has been, it held opposing teams to 41.4% shooting in the eliminations and stifled the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to a paltry 40.7%. TNT even won three playoff games shooting while shooting under 38% for the game!
Ginebra’s offense, though, is a different beast altogether as it is predicated on constant ball and player movement and unleashed by small-ball configurations that routinely put four shooters on the floor all at the same time. The result has been an electric offense that has shot 50.8% from the field (38.9% from downtown) on 25.7 assists per game (as to just 10.6 turnovers) in the playoffs.
2. Does Justin Brownlee have enough gas left?
Yes, both teams got some much-needed rest with the one-week break before the PBA Finals, but is it enough to propel Kabayan all the way to the finish line? Brownlee is no spring chicken at 36 and has been playing nonstop this year—first in the Indonesian Basketball league, where he led Pelita Jaya to a title, and Gilas right after in the Olympic Qualifiers.
After playing pretty much every other day in the playoffs, where Brownlee normed 31.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.8 blocks a game, it is safe to ask if he still has gas left, especially with the relentless Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on the other end. If JB has lots of magic left, Ginebra will be looking good; if he is running on fumes, then it might be a problem.
3. Can TNT unlock its offense?
TNT may have transformed into an elite defensive team, but it does not mean it cannot be an offensive juggernaut. It just has not happened for the Tropa this conference, at least not on a sustained basis, especially after a particularly trying eliminations that saw TNT average just 94.5 points–barely ahead of the Terrafirma’s Dyip’s league-worst offense.
But TNT has weapons on that end, and it can certainly explode, as it did when the Tropa dropped 125 points (on 57.5% shooting) in their quarters closer versus the NLEX Road Warriors and in 113 markers (on 51.2% from the field) in their semis closeout of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
4. Who will be Ginebra’s next-man-up?
Maverick Ahanmisi glowed about Ginebra’s next-man-up mindset, which has come in handy with Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray still out and Isaac Go getting injured. Ahanmisi, of course, has taken his turn as the Barangay’s next man up a few times already with his outside sniping and all-around play.
Against a stout TNT defense and in the bright lights of the PBA Finals, Ginebra will need more from Ahanmisi and anyone else–RJ Abarrientos comes to mind, as does Stephen Holt—if it will avenge its Season 47 championship loss to the Tropa. This next-man-up support is especially critical to keeping Brownlee fresh enough to finish off games.
