TNT shoots for its second straight PBA Governors’ Cup crown on Friday when it tackles Barangay Ginebra in Game 6 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga walloped the Gin Kings in Game 5, 99-72, to step closer to a successful title defende in the Governors’ Cup which they won two seasons ago, or in Season 47 (2023) to be exact.
TNT is expected to face stiff competition with Ginebra fighting for dear life in the 7:30 p.m. clash. Here's a preview of Game 6:
Barangay Ginebra vs. TNT
(TNT leads series, 3-2)
When: Friday, November 8. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Smart-Araneta Coliseum
Odds of TNT winning the title in Game 6
TNT’s victory over Ginebra in Game 5 bodes well for them. According to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon, 71 percent of teams that won Game 5 from a 2-2 tie in the finals eventually take home the championship, including five of the last six conferences, and 14 of the last 16 over the past nine seasons. The Gin Kings will look to break the trend on Friday night.
TNT needs another sterling defensive effort
The win in Game 5 was highlighted by a monstrous effort on defense. Most of Ginebra’s shots were contested, resulting in the Gin Kings only shooting 32 percent from the field. The second quarter had TNT outscoring Ginebra, 30-13, and limiting the Gin Kings to only three field goals on 16 percent shooting. Possessions by Ginebra were mostly one-and-done as TNT had an edge in defensive rebounds, 41-31, bringing the Tropang Giga’s average in that statistical category to 40.7 in the wins, and 22.5 in the losses. It has become apparent that defense will bring TNT another championship.
Game 6 could be Jayson Castro’s shining moment
Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Kelly Williams combined for 42 points in Game 5, but lost in the shuffle was the play of Jayson Castro, who was actually one of the players responsible for that second-quarter pullaway. Castro broke down Ginebra’s defense on the pick-and-roll, and had six points and five assists in the second quarter. He finished Game 5 with 10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and a block. With Game 6 being a close-out game, it would not be a surprise if TNT consistently turns to an old hand in Castro to finish the series.
TNT’s bench finally resurfaces. Can they repeat it in Game 6?
By bringing Kelly Williams up as a starter, Poy Erram slid into a bench role and provided a spark that TNT sorely needed. Erram had seven points and six rebounds off the bench, and the Tropang Giga finally got a lot of help from the second stringers with 34 points. How important is the bench for TNT? The Tropang Giga were averaging 31 bench points in the three wins in the finals, and only 16.5 in the two losses.
Contrasting performances from Game 4 heroes
Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi were clutch in Ginebra’s win in Game Four but had contrasting performances last Wednesday. Holt had 10 points, six in the third quarter as he tried to bring the Gin Kings back to life after being down by 23 at halftime, while still defending TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. In contrast, Ahanmisi only scored one point, missing all of his seven shots. Their play, especially Ahanmisi, must improve for Game 6.
Sitting out the entire fourth of Game 5 could be something that RHJ needs
With the result of the match already in the bag, TNT had the luxury of sitting out Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the entire fourth after logging heavy minutes in the entire finals including playing all 48 minutes in Games 2 and 3. Hollis-Jefferson admitted feeling weird about sitting out the fourth, but also thought it could make him fresher for Friday’s game.
Ginebra desperately needs Brownlee now
Needless to say, Barangay Ginebra, with its backs against the wall, needs Justin Brownlee at his best in Game 6. It looked like Brownlee has regained his form in Game 4 when he had his best output of 34 points in this finals. Unfortunately for the Gin Kings, Brownlee slumped in Game 5, scoring a PBA career-low eight points and shooting just 3-for-13 from the field. Questions about his condition have surfaced especially after he battled cramps in Game 3, and there has been a slight limp visible in his gait in some stretches of past matches. Like Hollis-Jefferson, Brownlee also got a full rest in the fourth quarter, which could be something that he needs for Game 6.
Game 7 in finals bad for TNT, good for Ginebra
If TNT is aspiring for a title, they must win it in Game 6. Why? The Tropang Giga are only 2-6 in Game 7s during the finals, the most recent one during the 2022-23 Philippine Cup where they lost to San Miguel. One of the six defeats even include one at the hands of Tim Cone when Talk ‘N Text lost to Alaska in the 2007 Fiesta Conference.
One of the two victories, however, was against Cone when Talk ‘N Text defeated Alaska during the 2008-09 Philippine Cup, with the other one coming in the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup title series against Rain or Shine.
The other losses of the franchise in Game 7s were in the 1998 Governors’ Cup against Shell (when TNT was still Mobiline), 2002 Commissioner’s Cup against Red Bull, 2011 Governors’ Cup against Petron, 2012 Commissioner’s Cup against B-Meg (and Cone).
On the other side, Game 7 is good for Barangay Ginebra as it is 3-1 in Game 7s during the finals, winning over Shell in the 1991 First Conference, over Air21 in the 2008 Fiesta Conference, and 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup against Bay Area Dragons. The Gin Kings’ lone loss in Game 7 was against San Miguel in the 2009 Fiesta Conference.
There is still hope for Ginebra and its legions of fans. But it needs to take care of business against TNT in Game 6.
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