Repeat or revenge

TNT-Ginebra IV

MANILA, Philippines — With TNT’s hat trick of championships at the expense of Barangay Ginebra in recent faceoffs, one could easily give the Tropang 5G the favored tag in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup finals.

But coach Chot Reyes and his gritty troops were quick to shrug the idea off.

“First of all, we’re only defending champions in name because it so happened that this was the same tournament that we won last time but it’s a very different series this time,” Reyes said ahead of Wednesday’s Game 1.

TNT edged Ginebra in seven thrilling games for the Commissioner’s Cup crown in the Season 49 edition, extending the dominance it started in the Season 47 and Season 49 Governors’ Cup finals.

For Round 4, the Tropang 5G won’t have Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who played a critical role in their previous title runs against the Justin Brownlee-led Gin Kings. Chris McCullough, owner of a ring from the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup who replaced the injured Bol Bol, will man the fort versus JB, his old gym buddy during his teen years.

“We have a different thing because of the import that we have (McCullough this time) so the key I think is our ability to continuously adjust and adapt to Ginebra’s game,” said Reyes.

“And for us, for me personally, my only objective is how to be able to get to play at a high level because that’s the only way we can compete. That’s the only thing I’m thinking of. Whatever happened in the past, the history, the previous records, doesn’t really matter to me now.”

For the Gin Kings, it actually does. Especially in terms of motivation.

“Both teams are deserving to be here. One’s going to come out on top. Sometimes, it’s not always, you know, it’s not fun being the second-place team. So you know, we’re both going for that first place,” said Ginebra counterpart Tim Cone.

“I think this is truly going to be one of the PBA finals that’s going to be remembered for a long time,” said McCullough. “We’re going up against a great team, great players and I feel like both teams are preparing hard for it.”