GAME TODAY
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs. Ginebra
TNT coach Chot Reyes has no illusion that his team is the favorite in the finals of the mid-season tilt against a Ginebra side boasting a slew of Gilas Pilipinas players.
To overcome the tough odds, he said the Tropang Giga should bring their A-game in the series – even more.
“We’re playing against the national team. They have the first five of Gilas over there, so that’s a huge advantage,” Reyes said. “I think that’s something that’s going to be a real challenge for us.
“But we already know the enormity of the challenge before us. So, our work is cut out for us, and like I said, all we can hope for is really play our best because if we don’t play our best, we have no chance,” he added.
An initial view of what the battle will look like will be known when TNT takes on Ginebra tonight in Game 1 of their best-of-7 finals duel for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Tip-off is set at 7:30. with the combatants keen on drawing first blood in the race-to-4 clash.
The two teams tangle anew in the Big Dance for the third time—the Tropang Giga prevailed over the Kings 4-2 in the Governors’ Cup in 2023 before following it up with a similar 4-2 title triumph in the same edition of the joust late last year.
Ginebra tactician Tim Cone downplayed his good pal’s claims and is convinced it will be anybody’s series.
“He (Reyes) said it, and that’s the same thing coming back at him. We feel the same way going at them. That’s the respect that we have for either team,” Cone said.
“We have to be at our best to have a chance to beat them. They’ve beaten us twice already so it’s on us to change the narrative.”
It will be different for the Kings this time. After kneeling to the Tropang Giga the last time out, Ginebra added former TNT big man Troy Rosario via free agency and will have the luxury of having talented standouts Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray. Both sat out the last finals due to calf and knee injuries, respectively.
The Kings will be propped up by the likes of star import Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, ace rookie RJ Abarrientos, Stephen Holt, veteran Japeth Aguilar, Malonzo, and Gray.
Without injured veteran playmaker Jayson Castro (knee), Reyes will pin his hopes on two-time best reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, and Kelly Williams.
“Even if we play our best, it’s not yet 100 percent guaranteed (we will win the series),” Reyes said.
“It’s still not sure, but at least I think we can compete. But if we do not play our best, we have no chance.”
Ginebra is aching to end a three-conference title drought but TNT is equally determined to make it three triumphs against the Kings.