TNT def Brgy. Ginebra, 95-85 [PBA S49 Govs’ Cup Finals Game 6 | Nov. 8, 2024]

TNT is heading into Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals with no intention of resting on its laurels.

Certainly not against the relentless Ginebra squad.

Calvin Oftana emerged as a pivotal player in TNT’s crucial Game 5 victory (PBA Images).

The Tropang Giga are eyeing a coronation at the conclusion of the showdown set for 7:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 8. However, the Barangay Ginebra Kings have other plans as they aim to force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday, Nov. 10.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes has implored his players to elevate their performances, anticipating a fierce fightback from Ginebra.

After squandering a 2-0 series lead, TNT returned to its defensive roots, stifling Ginebra’s offense by holding them to just 13 and 15 points during the middle quarters of Game 5. This defensive resurgence allowed TNT to take control of the match and regain momentum in the Finals series.

The effectiveness of their defense was evident in Justin Brownlee’s performance, as he finished with a mere eight points—his lowest career output—on a dismal 3-of-13 shooting. He did, however, sit out the entire fourth quarter with the game already decided, reinforcing Reyes’s belief that the resident Kings import will rebound strongly in the next contest.

Meanwhile, the Tropa, led by the determined Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, are eager to clinch victory and claim the championship. TNT is chasing its 10th title as a franchise, while Reyes is also on the hunt for his sixth with the Tropang Giga, aiming for his 10th overall in his storied career.