TNT and Barangay Ginebra are all set to slug it out for the PBA Governors’ Cup finals in a match-up that have all the makings of being a rivalry down the road. The two teams square off once again for the championship in a rematch of the 2023 series, the last time the Governors’ Cup was held before making a return for the 49th season.
Rematches in the Governors’ Cup finals are no stranger for Barangay Ginebra, which met Meralco four times, and winning the title in all those occasions. TNT, which defeated Ginebra during their first title duel two seasons ago, is out to create a similar feat by the Gin Kings by winning the return series.
There were changes since the last time they competed in the finals.
TNT no longer has the Finals MVP from that 2023 Governors’ Cup championship series in Mikey Williams in the fold following contractual issues between him and the team, while Barangay Ginebra has also parted ways with Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle.
Both teams have also retooled with TNT adding Rey Nambatac, and Barangay Ginebra acquiring Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos, the three playing vital roles in reaching the finals for their respective squads.
Most of the players from the championship run have stayed with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson serving as the main guy, and teaming up with Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Jayson Castro. For Barangay Ginebra, Justin Brownlee is once again vying for a PBA crown after missing last season due to sanctions related to his positive doping test after the Asian Games, along with Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar.
To get you ready for the PBA finals, here are the biggest questions for TNT and Barangay Ginebra that could determine which team will take home the crown.
Can TNT’s defense contain Ginebra’s offense?
The finals series will see a good, old-fashioned defense versus offense.
TNT has converted itself into an excellent defensive team, limiting their opponents to a league-best 89.89 points for the entire conference. The Tropang Giga are also first in blocks with 3.63 and second in steals with 8.79.
Barangay Ginebra, meanwhile, has been one of the top offensive teams in the league, averaging third in the league with 106.53, behind San Miguel and Blackwater. The Gin Kings also top in field goal percentage (47.85), two-point field goal percentage (56.66), and three-point field goal percentage (37.2). Also a proof of their efficient offense is their league-leading 26 assists.
TNT’s defense was in full display in the semifinal series against Rain or Shine, limiting the Elasto Painters to 91 points, far from the 112.2 it averaged during the elimination round. A team that averaged 24.2 fastbreak points, Rain or Shine went down to 13.6 when it went up against TNT in the semifinals.
TNT might need another similar defensive effort in order to bring down Ginebra again.
Can RHJ continue his all-around play against Brownlee, Holt, and company?
While Barangay Ginebra may be the team that has better offense in the finals series, their defense should not be taking lightly. The Gin Kings were decent on defense during the eliminations, averaging 99.2 points allowed for fourth in the league.
Ginebra was also third in steals with 8.0 and blocks with 3.5 during the eliminations, and gave up the least fouls with 14.5, showing that the Gin Kings are doing a good job of defending without fouling.
Ginebra’s defense will be tested as it faces Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, which has been doing it all for TNT by averaging 28.0 points, 12.89 rebounds, 6.39 assists, 2.89 steals, and 1.89 blocks.
Stephen Holt is expected to defend Hollis-Jefferson after being tasked as Ginebra’s ‘import stopper’, but Justin Brownlee could also be given the responsibility as well after he was also given the role of defending June Mar Fajardo during the semifinal series.
Can the league’s best defense overcome Playoff Justin Brownlee?
TNT’s defense that has been impactful in the 49th Season Governors’ Cup will be facing Justin Brownlee for the first time this conference.
Brownlee has been the backbone of the Gin Kings, registering all-around numbers as well of 28.32 points, 9.21 rebounds, 5.79 assists, 1.58 steals, and 1.47 blocks for the conference.
His offensive arsenal has even expanded in the playoffs, making nine four-pointers during the semifinal series against San Miguel, aside from the 11 threes he drained, leading to an average of 31.67 points in the six games against the Beermen.
It might take a village to contain Brownlee, who has become even better with age, but Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Roger Pogoy, who has the second most steals among locals in the league with an average of 1.76, could be stepping in to a larger role on defense in the finals.
If TNT doesn't do so, chances are Brownlee might end up with another performance to remember to avenge his first and only loss in the PBA finals against TNT during the 2023 Governors' Cup.
How will first-time finalists RJ Abarrientos and Rey Nambatac respond to the big stage?
The spotlight in the finals will be shared by RJ Abarrientos and Rey Nambatac, two players who will be competing in a championship series for the first time in their PBA careers.
Abarrientos, the No. 3 pick in the 49th Season Draft, will try to win a PBA crown in only his first conference in the league, and he has definitely contributed for his team to reach this far by averaging 13.33 points, 2.83 rebounds, and 3.67 assists during the semifinals against San Miguel.
How he will respond to the high-stakes games in the finals could determine the fate of Barangay Ginebra this conference.
Nambatac has been in the league for seven seasons already, but is playing in the finals for the first time in his career.
Appearing in only his third semifinals series, Nambatac made sure to help TNT advance by averaging 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the semifinal round against his former team Rain or Shine. Will Nambatac finally won that elusive PBA crown?
Which team will make their outside shots?
As noted by TNT coach Chot Reyes, Barangay Ginebra has become one of the top outside shooting teams in the league, a departure to what it used to do in previous seasons. The Gin Kings are shooting 186-of-500 from threes, and 28-of-120 from fours.
The Tropang Giga, however, aren’t bad from the outside, even making more three-pointers than the Gin Kings with a total of 194 in 587 attempts from the eliminations to the semifinals. Four-pointers though aren’t the forte of TNT, making just nine during the conference.
Nevertheless, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Rey Nambatac are in the top 15 among locals in the league in average three-pointers made this conference, and could give Ginebra a run for its money in this series in terms of shooting from the outside.
After experiencing setbacks due to injuries, how will Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, and Poy Erram perform in their return to the finals?
Three players who were coming off major injuries will be suiting up in this finals series between TNT and Barangay Ginebra, and could end up as champions.
It could be fair to say that Barangay Ginebra sorely missed the presence of Japeth Aguilar during their previous salvo two seasons ago. Aguilar played only four games and saw action for 14 minutes combined during the 2023 Governors’ Cup finals after being sidelined with an MCL injury. That setback seems ages ago as Aguilar is performing at a high level with an average of 18 points, 6.05 rebounds, and an efficient 63.26 percent from the field from the eliminations to the semifinals.
Scottie Thompson is also in excellent shape after playing through a back injury last season that prevented him from being at his best that also contributed to Barangay Ginebra missing the finals. In the semifinals, Thompson averaged 13.5 points, 7.67 rebounds, and 1.5 steals against San Miguel, and a similar effort could be key for Ginebra’s title hopes.
The player that had the most serious injury among them is Poy Erram, who even tinkered about retirement after being out for months due to an MCL tear, a swollen cartilage, and bone spurs. In his first season back from that injury, Erram also returns to the finals after a solid showing against Rain or Shine where he had 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 rebounds.
Who will be the X-factor in the series? Here are some candidates
Maverick Ahanmisi
Ginebra got a welcome boost in the semifinals from Maverick Ahanmisi, who stepped up against San Miguel with his offense when he averaged 13.67 points, and making 12 threes in six games, better than the 9.4 points and 10 threes he made in 10 games during the elimination round.
Ahanmisi is playing in his first finals with Barangay Ginebra since being acquired by the team last season, but has won a title before with Rain or Shine back in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup. His experience in a finals atmosphere will be vital for Barangay Ginebra.
Jayson Castro
The term X-factor may not fit Jayson Castro considering how he has been the cornerstone for TNT in their past champion teams. But now at 38, Castro could be that guy for the Tropang Giga. There has been efforts in past conferences to limit the minutes of Castro in preparation for a deep run, knowing that the eight-time PBA champion is still capable of delivering in the playoffs.
Castro, however, was bothered by a knee injury during the Rain or Shine series, forcing him to miss two games and playing limited minutes in Games Two and Four.
But if healthy, Castro could still pile up the points, bring in the leadership on the court, and perhaps more importantly in this finals series, could be the player from the TNT side that could match-up with the speed and quickness of Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos in the finals.
Will there be a ‘magic bunot’ from the bench in this finals series?
Though they are in the finals, Barangay Ginebra and TNT do not exactly have the best bench in the league. The Gin Kings are dead last in bench points with 22, while the Tropang Giga are 10th in the same category with 30.21.
However, there are candidates for both teams in the role of the ‘magic bunot’ based from some of their games in the semifinals.
For Barangay Ginebra, Ralph Cu could be that spark like what he did in Game Five where he had four points, six rebounds, and seven assists against San Miguel, or even Nards Pinto, who was a perfect 3-of-3 from threes to finish with nine points and three rebounds in Game One against the Beermen.
Kim Aurin could also be the surprise for TNT in the finals after he had 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from threes in Game Five against Rain or Shine. Glenn Khobuntin is also a candidate after he had eight points and four rebounds in the closed-out game against the Elasto Painters.
With the perennial stars of each team being their main weapons, the play of the second and third stringers could be the difference in the series.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
