Terrence Jones doesn’t feel that his TNT KaTropa are the favorites to win the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Talk of the flagship MVP franchise winning it all sparked wildly after TNT dethroned defending champs Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 103-92, in Game Four of their best-of-five semifinal series on Thursday night.
“I don’t feel like we’re the favorites,” said Jones, who had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in the victory.
For Jones, their underdog status comes because they haven’t won in a long while.
TNT last won a championship in the 2015 edition of the mid-season tilt at the expense of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Meanwhile, they last made the Finals back in 2017, in the same conference, where they lost to the San Miguel Beermen.
“I know we haven’t won in a long time so we feel we’re the underdogs,” said Jones, a US NCAA champion in 2012.
On paper, press have pegged TNT the top dogs.
The Katropa blasted Rain or Shine in the elims, 102-81, back in July 3. They then picked up an equally-impressive win over San Miguel back in June 8, 110-97.
But despite their status, Jones said that everybody in the KaTropa is excited to try and to do “something special” – ending the franchise’s years-long title drought, that is.
“We’re gonna come in excited in trying to get something special done that hasn’t happened for our organization in a long time,” the 27-year-old.
TNT will now wait for either the Beermen or the Elasto Painters as their opponents in the Finals. Asked if he has any preferences for their foes in the best-of-seven bout, Jones said he likes his team’s chances versus anybody.
“Man, I like my team versus everybody,” said the versatile 6-foot-9 forward. “We worked very hard this whole year to create this chemistry and belief in one another.
“We’re gonna continue on having that same belief in each other.”
