THE entire TNT Tropang 5G were in their war room and watched how the do-or-die battle between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra unfolded together.
Players and coaching staff led by Chot Reyes paid a courtesy call on TNT owner Manny V. Pangilinan on Wednesday night, then proceeded to watch on personal screens provided to each of them the sudden-death Game 7 pitting the two SMC teams.
READ San Miguel outduels Ginebra in Game 7, gets shot at TNT in Finals
San Miguel instigated a big fourth-quarter rally to upend Barangay Ginebra, 100-93, and set up a championship showdown with the Tropang 5G in the season-ending PBA Philippine Cup.
Team manager Jojo Lastimosa and PBA board chairman and TNT governor Ricky Vargas joined Pangilinan and the rest of the team at the conference room of the PLDT office in Makati City for the viewing party.
“The bosses laid out the work ahead, and the players are ready whoever is in front,” said Lastimosa in a short message to Spin.ph.
TNT clinched the first finals berth after finishing off Rain or Shine in six games in their own semifinals series, including the 97-89 close out win in Game 6.
It’s the third straight finals appearance in Season 49 for the telecommunication franchise, putting it in a perfect position to score the league’s first grand slam in more than a decade.
TNT beat Barangay Ginebra twice in the title series of the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively, and will now face No. 1 seed San Miguel in the best-of-seven title series.
Coach Chot Reyes said he doesn't sweat over things he can't control.
“We just need to take care of the things that are within our control,” he said. “That’s our preparation and our planning.”
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