THE TNT Tropang Giga will try to pick up the pieces of their Game 5 loss on Wednesday, even as the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings shoot for the championship in Game 6 of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven championship series at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Gametime is 7:30 p.m.
“We just need to regroup. This is not over,” Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes said after their 66-73 loss on Sunday, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
With the Gin Kings ahead in the series at 3-2, tying the series for the third time will give the Tropang Giga hope of taking the crown in Game 7.
“They need four wins to win the championship, but like you’ve seen, it’s a tough team that we’re playing,” added Reyes.
The Tropang Giga want to move on from their bench commotion on Sunday when Reyes had a misunderstanding with player Poy Erram in the third quarter. Erram threw his towel out of frustration, while Reyes nearly walked out during a huddle.
“We can’t make the mistakes we’re making against the national team — we’re playing Gilas, the first five. It’s tough. We have a very small room for error,” said Reyes.
Justin Brownlee is expected to play again for the Gin Kings for the second time with his injured right thumb all taped up, and with Ginebra close to taking the crown with another triumph.
But since it will be a difficult task for him to continue doing this, coach Tim Cone is expected to once again field in an experienced guard in LA Tenorio, and help Scottie Thompson control their plays and executions.
“It’s definitely not comfortable, but I’m starting to get the hang of it and getting used to it,” said Brownlee of his situation.
Cone allowed Tenorio to sub for Thompson in the last two minutes of the third quarter, and at some parts of the fourth.
“I just felt that we weren’t executing as well as we could and that’s one thing that LA is, just really, really smart with his execution,” said Cone on letting Tenorio play.
Cone believes that Brownlee will be able to cope with his injury and recover from his pain.
“Hopefully, in a couple of days, he can recover from that a bit, and become a bit stronger with that thumb. Him playing with his thumb hurt, that’s amazing at this point,” added Cone.