The TNT Tropang Giga will once again be ready to compete against a tough Barangay Ginebra San Miguel squad in Game 7.
Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes said this after they pulled off an 87-83 stopping of the Gin Kings in Game 6 of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday.
“The guys, they’ll just give it their all,” said Reyes, ahead of their 7:30 p.m., winner-take-all showdown on Friday against the Gin Kings once again at the Big Dome.
Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone said Game 6 was the kind of encounter that they were looking fo ragainst the Tropang Giga.
Only this time, TNT was able to outperform them.
“We got the game that we wanted. But they were better at it,” said Cone.
TNT led, 63-62, when it went on a 9-0 run in the fourth to take its biggest lead of the game at 72-62.
After that, they held their ground when the Gin Kings rallied back.
“That’s the definition of competing. Our players just competed,” said Reyes.
Cone gave credit to TNT’s big effort, now that they are in a 3-3 deadlock.
The Tropang Giga will again draw on the expected big game of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who has been averaging 22.4 points and 12.6 rebounds in the series.
“They made big shots, they made big stops, forced turnovers on us. We tried to stay in the game. Like I said, it’s the kind of game we wanted to play, the kind of game we hoped to play, but tonight they were better at it than we were,” added Cone.
Ginebra will count on Justin Brownlee, who norms 24.6 points and 11.2 boards in the finals.
But support from Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo will be crucial, too, as Brownlee is still recovering from a thumb injury he suffered in Game 2.
The Tropang Giga will have their third Commissioner’s Cup crown if they win, while the Gin Kings will be shooting for their fourth.