TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa has succeeded in guiding the team back to the Big Dance where he will get his baptism of fire against his former coach, Ginebra tactician Tim Cone.
The odds will definitely not be in his favor, but Lastimosa is unfazed.
“I’m excited to see my former coach. I have nothing to lose. Our team has nothing to lose,” Lastimosa said. “He’s been there. He’s done that and everything’s riding for them and everybody’s expecting that Ginebra will win this championship anyway.
“We’re only here probably to spoil the party and hopefully we can come up with a good game like what we did here in this series,” he added.
Lastimosa spoke after his charges ripped Meralco 107-92 last Friday in Game 4 of their best-of-5 semifinals duel in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson notched a game-high 42 points he laced with 11 rebounds and three assists for the Tropang Giga, while Calvin Oftana provided a big boost with 21 markers and eight boards.
Mikey Williams and Roger Pogoy also had 17 and 16 points, respectively, as TNT scored a fitting follow up to a 99-80 drubbing of the Bolts in Game 3 five days ago and wrapped up the series 3-1.
The Tropang Giga square off with the Kings in Game 1 of their best-of-7 title battle on Easter Sunday, April 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra essayed a 3-0 semis sweep over San Miguel Beer.
But Lastimosa maintained TNT will not be a pushover in the finals.
“We got Rondae on my side, so I’m okay with it. But going into this series, I like my chances,” Lastimosa said.
“Our players are playing well and maybe you guys noticed that we’ve been winning games during our streak with scoring and right now we’re defending really well. So, I think the guys are going to be ready.”
The Tropang Giga downed the Kings 114-105 when they first met in the eliminations last March 17 but that hardly matters, according to Lastimosa.
“Nothing other than that was the one win that brought us a twice-to-beat (advantage) and a No. 1 seed,” he said.
“Like I said, any win against Ginebra, especially in the elimination, counts for nothing other than just one win.”
Reinforcement KJ McDaniels paced Meralco with 37 points, 12 caroms and four dimes, while Aaron Black had 19 and five.
Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero also combined for 22 markers for the Bolts.
