Same finals matchup, same triumphant result.
MANILA, Philippines — As if mirroring its conquest in their previous Last Dance clash, TNT hit rival Barangay Ginebra with the kill shot in Game 6, 95-85, to repeat as PBA Governors’ Cup champs last night at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the crowd darlings threatening to force a Game 7 sudden death when they seized an 11-point lead late in the third, the Tropang Giga turned to their patented defense – while taking a page from their rivals’ never-say-die spirit – to turn it around.
When the outcome was beyond doubt, coach Chot Reyes put his right arm up in triumph, Calvin Oftana gave Finals MVP Jayson Castro a tight hug in the backcourt and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made a triumphant roar.
Mission accomplished. TNT hoisted the crown again 567 days after dethroning Justin Brownlee and the Gin Kings in the previous edition of the Governors’ Cup.
Wearing a gray champion’s shirt, the back-to-back GC titlists and now 10-time champs celebrated at centercourt with their loyal supporters among the 14,668-strong crowd headed by PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan himself and team governor and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.
The Tropang Giga took the fight out of the Gin Kings with a telling 29-11 salvo in the fourth, choking the latter to a 26.7 percent clip in winning time.
“It took a lot of belief from top to bottom, believing we can do it, trusting in our process. And everything, all the work we put in, paid off,” said Hollis-Jefferson, who fired 10 of his 31 in the final canto to anchor TNT’s strong finishing kick.
“We got the championship,” added RHJ, who was backed by Castro (13-6), RR Pogoy (13), Rey Nambatac (12) and Oftana (eight points).
Reyes captured his 10th PBA title overall after getting the better of his good friend Ginebra’s Tim Cone in this hard-fought series. Reyes was senior consultant to team manager Jojo Lastimosa when TNT defeated Ginebra in April 2023.
“I’d like to give credit to Coach Tim (Cone) and Ginebra, they’re very worthy opponents. But in the end, ayaw magpatalo ng aming players, a good championship and now we go to the next one,” said Reyes.