It all boils down to this: Game 7 for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT Tropang Giga in one final battle for all the marbles in what could very well be an epic conclusion to an epic series.
With the finale about to unfold in a few hours, here are five things to watch out for in Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Ginebra and TNT. Any or a combination of these things will surely determine the outcome of this winner-take-all game.
Justin Brownlee’s Magic Meter for Game 7
Justin Brownlee looked gas at the end of Game 6, and that he made back-to-back jumpers to bring Ginebra to within 80-79 with under a minute left is testament to the warrior within. But with a busted right thumb, heavy minutes in five of the six games, and a weary, 36-year-old body, it’s fair to wonder if JB has any magic—and gas—left against a determined, relentless Tropa.
TNT’s Three-Point Shooting
While elite defense is the Tropa’s calling card, three-point shooting has actually become their barometer. This Commissioner’s Cup, they’re 11-2 when they make at least 10 triples on 35% shooting and 3-0 in this series. That held true obviously in Game 6, when TNT hit exactly 10 treys on 25 attempts—or 40%. Look for Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy to come in locked and loaded.
Ginebra’s Locals
Scottie Thompson has been brilliant—14.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists—in this Finals. Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar have had their moments, as have Mav Ahanmisi and RJ Abarrientos. But they have yet to play a complete game where everyone’s playing well and contributing something positive. They’ll need to step up now, especially with Brownlee likely running on fumes.
Rey Nambatac’s Superstar Turn
Rey Nambatac has been arguably the best local in these Finals. The numbers bear that out: 17.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on a blistering 56.8 shooting overall and 54% from three-point range. He’s been a machine all-series-long—cool, calm, and collected in every way in picking apart Ginebra’s conference-best defense. Game 7 could be his coronation as Finals MVP.
Poy Erram Game 7 Experience
The Poy Erram experience has been the biggest sideshow in the Finals—getting into it with fans, kicking something in the dugout hallway, and figuring in a fiery exchange with Chot Reyes in Game 5. But he’s also been huge in two of TNT’s victories—the first in Game 3, when he hit a game-tying triple with Ginebra making a big run, and then in Game 6, where he played a gem of a game. Game 7 Erram is definitely must-watch TV.
