Ginebra will go for the kill and take the throne away from TNT in Game 6 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals later tonight.
Tip-off time of the potential title clincher is at 7:30 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, which should be packed again, especially with Kings fans dreaming of a coronation.
Coach Tim Cone and his charges are entering the crucial bout with a 3-2 lead in the race-to-4 series, which they earned by gutting out a 100-95 overtime win back in Game 5 behind another masterclass from Justin Brownlee.
The four-time Best Import of the Conference strapped the team on his back from down 87-80 late in regulation. He finished with a career-high 54 points, on top of 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block in 51 minutes.
Per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, it is the highest output in a PBA Finals by any player since Tony Harris’ 54 in Swift’s 124-110 OT loss to San Miguel Beer in Game 3 of the inaugural Governors’ Cup title series in 1993.
The PBA’s winningest mentor was left in awe of yet another sterling showing from the 38-year-old. At the same time, he remains wary ahead of Game 6, since ‘JB’ and the Kings spent plenty of energy to hack out the last win.
“We’ve spent so much effort. Justin’s spent so much effort in this game that you’ve gotta favor TNT coming into Game 6,” said Cone, who looks to earn his 26th championship. “We’re gonna have to find a way to overcome that.”
(C) PBA Images
Another concern for Ginebra is that it’s taking on a team that’s proven it can overcome a 3-2 deficit in the Finals.
In the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season, the flagship MVP franchise came back and won the whole thing, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson leading the way and Rey Nambatac eventually bagging home Finals MVP honors.
TNT also bowed in Game 5 of that series, 73-66, but bounced back by hacking out an 87-83 decision in Game 6. Seasoned big man Poy Erram provided the spark as he scored 10 of his 14 points in the deciding period.
Glenn Khobuntin would get his own moment come Game 7. He emerged as the unlikely hero after helping put together the rally that erased a 70-64 deficit late in the fourth on their way to the thrilling 87-83 OT win to clinch the crown.
However, Hollis-Jefferson isn’t around this time due to an Achilles tear. Erram hasn’t been playing as well, as he continues his rehab from a knee injury.
Plus, the Tropa have been banged up, with Calvin Oftana nursing a hurt foot while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser tweaked his ankle during Game 5.
Still, Roger Pogoy and the rest of the squad remained defiant.
“Galing din kami sa ganito dati, na 3-2. Basta trabahuhin lang namin, walang imposible. Sabi ko na nga, unang maka-apat, so tatlo pa naman. May chance pa,” he said.
In fact, the defending champions are the underdogs to take Game 6, according to the Casino Plus sportsbook as of 4:00 PM. The handicap is set at +1.5, with the over/under in total points scored between the two teams set at 195.5.
Bets can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
