The TNT Tropang Giga will shoot for a second consecutive PBA Governors’ Cup title later today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. And they will be coming to Game 6 with all the momentum in the world after its 99-72 shellacking of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 5.
It was a complete demolition job for the Tropa in that game, leading by as much as 36 at one point in the fourth quarter, 84-48, before stepping off the proverbial pedal in what was extended garbage time. It was an anticlimactic finish of sorts—more on the Ginebra side of things—for a game many thought would go down the wire given how the winner would be a win away from the crown.
TNT, though, made Game 5 a laugher by doubling down on what got them to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals: relentless, unforgiving defense.
“We focused on our strength, and that’s our defense. We got back to what brought us here—playing great defense,” said Reyes in the aftermath of Game 5.
Ginebra Looking for a Big-Time Bounce Back
Even so, Reyes is expecting a Ginebra fight back. His counterpart, Tim Cone, is hoping that his team will play with a lot more urgency to force a Game 7.
The PBA’s winningest coach admitted afterward he feels bad about the 27-point drubbing but is not at all wallowing in self-pity.
“I know our fans feel bad about it, everybody feels bad, the team feels bad about it. But the bottom line is, it’s just one game in the series. It could have happened in Game 1 or Game 2, or Game 3,” said Cone in an interview with reporters after Game 5. “No one feels bad about losing a game like this than me. But we just got to move on, get ready for Game 6, and see what we can do.”
One thing Ginebra needs to do is solve that vexing TNT defense, which held Justin Brownlee to a measly 8 points in Game 5 and the Barangay to a ghastly 32% clip from the field.
Otherwise, confetti will rain down on the Big Dome later tonight, and they won’t be for Ginebra.
