BARANGAY Ginebra will go for the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup crown on Wednesday when it faces TNT at the resumption of the finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Will Game 6 be a coronation for the Gin Kings?
Here’s a preview of Game 6 and some storylines to watch out.
BARANGAY GINEBRA VS. TNT
When: Wednesday, March 23. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Ginebra going for the championship
The Gin Kings will be eyeing their 16th PBA crown on Wednesday when they face the Tropang Giga in Game 6 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals. Ginebra defeated TNT, 73-66, through the heroic play of Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee to lead the finals for the first time and move on the cusp of a championship.
Finals MVP Scottie?
Scottie Thompson has put together a performance to remember in the finals when he had 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. He is now averaging 14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks in the series, and could go down as the Finals MVP if he continues his hot streak in Game 6.
Brownlee continues to play through injured thumb
Justin Brownlee is still playing magnificently in the finals despite a dislocated thumb, embodying Ginebra’s NSD spirit. In Game 5, Brownlee had 18 points and 14 rebounds including the final four points of the match to secure the important victory and the lead in the finals series. However, Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted his thumb affected his play in the first half where he only made one field goal, only to get his rhythm back in the second half to lift his team to victory. That injured thumb will remain a concern for the team as they vie for the title in Game 6.
How will TNT respond to Chot-Poy argument
Poy Erram was once again at the center of controversy in Game 5 when he got into an argument with TNT coach Chot Reyes during a timeout. “Sabi ko kung hindi ko siya mapagsabihan, eh di siya ang mag-coach,” Reyes said on what he told Erram during the argument. From the outside, it seems like Erram and Reyes have patched things up, with Erram already apologizing to the team for the incident. The incident can work both ways for TNT – as a rallying point in their bid to force Game 7 or the downfall of the Tropang Giga in this finals series.
Ginebra’s defense in the second half of Game 5
It should be noted how Ginebra was able to neutralize TNT’s scoring. From going 46.2 percent from the field in the first half, TNT only made 7 of 37 in the second half – a reflection of how good the Gin Kings were on defense and how bad of a shooting night the Tropang Giga had in that stretch. Can Ginebra sustain its defense in Game 6?
RHJ still not his usual self
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson hasn't been as explosive for TNT like he was in Game 1 when he had 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in their win. RHJ had 19 points in Game 5, slightly higher than his conference-low 14 points in the previous match, but still not enough for TNT to claim victory. Meanwhile, details have emerged that Hollis-Jefferson is dealing with a pulled hamstring that dates back to the semifinal series against Rain or Shine, which could explain his struggles in the past two games. With TNT facing elimination, RHJ should put together a performance to save their conference.
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