BARANGAY Ginebra will look to break a three-year title drought on Sunday in Game 6 against TNT in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The Smart-Araneta Coliseum is expected to rock with legions of Ginebra fans anticipating a potential title-clincher that they have not experienced since the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup where they beat guest team Bay Area Dragons.
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TNT, however, has other plans as the Tropang 5G look to extend the finals to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Here is a preview of Game 6.
TNT VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
Barangay Ginebra leads series, 3-2
When: Sunday, June 14. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Gin Kings go for jugular
Barangay Ginebra goes for the championship this Sunday in Game 6 against TNT with the Smart-Araneta Coliseum expected to be a full house in anticipation of a coronation. The Gin Kings grabbed a 3-2 lead in the finals after a dramatic 100-95 overtime win over the Tropang 5G in which they came back from an 87-80 deficit.
Brownlee dominates
Justin Brownlee was nothing short of amazing in Game 5 where he carried Ginebra with a new career-high of 54 points. Brownlee’s domination was not only a reflection of how good he is but also of how TNT chose to defend him 1-on-1 in a mismatch, instead of letting the locals take over. That almost worked in Game 5 as the entire local crew manufactured 45 percent of Ginebra’s offense after four quarters. But Brownlee was just too good and TNT needs to tighten up their defense against Brownlee in order to stay alive.
In as much as Brownlee has been very good, the locals led by RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson must find a way to get their offense going so as to lighten their import’s load.
TNT knows how to come back
TNT doesn’t need to panic in this situation as the Tropang 5G once fought back from a 3-2 deficit to win a championship. That happened just last season in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals when they won Games 6 and 7 against this same team, both by the score of 87-83.
Oftana’s health a question mark
Calvin Oftana stepped back a little bit on offense in Game 5, and focused on the defensive side particularly against Abarrientos as TNT continued to put a taller defender on the high-scoring Ginebra guard. The Tropang 5G found success as Abarrientos had a quiet 13-point output.
Oftana, however, missed the entire overtime period as his injuries, including one on his toe, acted up during that stretch, making his fitness a question mark for Game 6.
Veterans shine in the finals
Japeth Aguilar has been a key contributor in the finals for Ginebra. Over the last three games, Aguilar has averaged 11.6 points, far from the 6.8 per game he produced in the semifinals against Rain or Shine. He has also shot a combined 13-of-18 from the field in the three previous games. His dunk over Henry Galinato in Game 5 is proof that Aguilar still has the ability to make a huge impact at age 39.
Set to turn 40 on June 30, Jayson Castro also showed he can still contribute. Castro is averaging 10 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks over the last two games. The three-time Finals MVP had a complete game of six points, six rebounds, six assists, and three blocks in Game 5.
Their experience will be valuable for their respective teams as the finals goes deep.
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