THE PBA Finals is not yet over. Far from it.
That was the reminder of TNT coach Chot Reyes ahead of Game 6 of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup Finals even after a resounding victory last Wednesday that moved the Tropang Giga on the verge of back-to-back titles.
Reyes expects a huge fightback from Barangay Ginebra after TNT came away with a stunning 99-72 win that put the Tropang Giga on the cusp of wrapping up what has been a fiercely fought best-of-seven title series.
At the end of the day, Reyes said the winner of Game 6 will be determined by which team will be able to execute on offense and defense.
“At this point in the series, there’s very little each of the team can do na bago eh,” Reyes said. “It’s just a matter of being able to play harder, play better, and execute more efficiently. We have to be ready.”
History on the side of TNT
History favors TNT after winning Game 5 as 34 out of the 48 teams, or 71 percent, which did so in a best-of-seven finals series after a 2-2 tie went on to win the championship, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon.
But if there will be one team that will come out and play the hardest, it could be Ginebra, whose backs are now against the wall after surprisingly playing lackluster basketball in Game Five where they only shot 32 percent from the field.
Their field goal woes were compounded by their second-quarter showing where TNT limited them to 13 points on 3-for-19 shooting from the field.
“We are sure Ginebra is going to come out with a lot more urgency,” Reyes cautioned. “And we have to match that, if not out-energize them because we are not underestimating that team by any means. Not by a long shot.”
“We are already thinking about Game Six. We just need to be ready,” Reyes said.
Reyes said he already warned his team of a Ginebra comeback as early as halftime of Game 5 after TNT went ahead 56-33. That nearlybecame a reality when the Gin Kings started out by clustering points early only for TNT to counter.
“We talked about it at halftime and we told them to be prepared especially in the first five minutes for the big Ginebra run because you can’t keep a good team like that down. And true enough, they scored I think the first five points in the third quarter,” said Reyes.
“But because we talked about it and we were prepared, we knew what to do on the return. Again, a lot of the things in a series like this is your ability to just keep your poise. We told the players to relax. We expected it. And now, let’s reply, let’s retaliate,” he added.
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