WITH Barangay Ginebra on the ropes, TNT tries to unleash the killer blow and put the finishing touch in a masterpiece in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup.
With a great recovery from losses in Games Three and Four, the Tropang Giga are in a prime position to finish the job and achieve a title repeat as they battle a beleaguered Ginebra side at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
If ever, the Smart/PLDT franchise would make it back-to-back and become the sixth ball club with a double-digit haul of PBA championships after San Miguel Beer (with 29), Barangay Ginebra (15), Alaska Milk (14), Purefoods/Magnolia (14) and Crispa (13).
For Chot Reyes, it would be a 10th title if he would be able to duplicate the feat achieved by Cinderella man Jojo Lastimosa in the 2023 Governors' Cup.
For Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, it would be a great follow-up to his PBA golden debut back in 2023.
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But Reyes isn't looking far ahead, knowing their job isn't yet done, and it would take a lot for them to finish off Ginebra with its never-say-die spirit.
Coach Tim Cone is far from sounding they're ready to let the Tropang Giga home with the crown.
"Our backs are to the wall and we have to come out with a little bit of desperation in Game Six," he said. "No one feels about losing a game (Game Five) like this than me. But we just got to move on, get ready for Game Six and see what we can do."
Buried in a deep hole by the third quarter Wednesday night, Cone opted to sit out his core players in the fourth period obviously already for rest, restoration and reflection.
Reyes wouldn't lull into complacency. He is now bracing for a tough, tough fight in the next game.
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Forget the Kings losing Game Five by 27 points (72-99).
"It's one game in a series, it's not 'the series' and my job is to win a series and not to win one game," said Cone as he emerged from the Ginebra dugout.
"It's the same as losing a 30-point game, and losing a one-point game," he added.
"Actually, it doesn't matter that we lost by 30 points. Bottom line is we lost. You'd still be talking to me if we lost by one point or we lost by 30. So it's the same thing."
But the question is would the Kings, looking tired and all, be able to make the adjustments to derail TNT's ride.(SB)
