RHJ, Tropa seek closer in repeat bid

MANILA, Philippines — TNT has put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to this point.

Now all the Tropang Giga have to do is grind it out for one more match against challenger Barangay Ginebra to complete their retain-the-crown mission.

“We know what’s at stake,” said Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of tonight’s Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where the Tropang Giga will seek their glorious moment as back-to-back PBA Governors’ Cup champions.

“We know that we’re one win away from being champion and we also know they (Ginebra) will come out with that feeling of ‘it’s now or never.’ So with that, we have to be a team, be cohesive as ever and lock in on what we’ll have to do.”

Take care of the closing-out business in the 7:30 p.m. tussle and the Tropang Giga will add one jewel to their overall collection of nine and become the latest franchise with at least 10 crowns after San Miguel (29), Ginebra (15), Alaska (14), Magnolia (14) and Crispa (13).

But if the proud Gin Kings spoil TNT’s clinch bid, the protagonists will take this livewire showdown to a Game 7 sudden death on Sunday in Antipolo.

“At this point in the series, there’s very little each of the team can do na bago. It’s just a matter of being able to play harder, play better, execute more efficiently so we have to be ready,” said Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes, who’s on the hunt for his 10th championship as well.

“We’re sure Ginebra is going to come out with a lot more urgency and we have to be able to match that, if not out-energize them.”

That’s exactly what Ginebra counterpart Tim Cone and his charges are cooking up.

“Our back is to the wall. We’ll have to come out with a little bit of desperation in Game 6,” said Cone after the Tropang Giga handed them a 99-72 blackeye in the Game 5 tiebreaker last Wednesday.

“No one feels worse about losing a game like this than me. But it’s the same losing a 30-point game and losing a one-point game in a series. So we just got to move on, get ready for Game 6 and see what we can do.”

TNT’s defensive machine went full blast in the fifth match, where Justin Brownlee was held to only eight points – the first time he ever failed to score in double digits in the PBA.