Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (with ball) and TNT dominated Barangay Ginebra the last time the two teams fought for a PBA title. —August dela Cruz
It could be difficult to understand what surprise each team will throw themselves on Friday when TNT and Barangay Ginebra get their last battle for a PBA championship.
The two rivals have made this dance a lot, creating a feeling of familiarity with each other.
“I do not know what will be the difference,” said Gin Kings resident Justin Brownlee, said about the seven best series for the Crown of the Commissioner’s Cup which denounces at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Overview of the PBA finals: Ginebra vs TNT in another rivals confrontation
Brownlee’s feelings could be true. Or, in a playing spirit, it could also be a smoke screen for potential gambits that can take one or the other team off guard.
The answer will be known in match 1, which is an opportunity for the two teams to set the tone for the series.
Ginebra will enter the final after having already lost two recent championship fights against TNT, and should capitalize on the presence of Troy Rosario and Jamie Malonzo in the hope of finally being on the winning side this time.
Hours: 2025 finals of the PBA Commissioner Cup – Ginebra vs TNT
“You can know what you want to know,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “But if the team runs well, you can still fight through it. And it’s (how things) will go down to us. »»
CONE and TNT CHOT REYES are faced with the eighth time in the PBA final, another sub -intrigue of the title test.
Main weapon
Reyes and Tropang Giga will seek to continue their mastery of the favorites of the crowd, even without Jayson Castro, whose absence due to a knee injury is considered one of the factors that could affect the result.
TNT still has resources in the importation of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin oftana, Rey Nambatac and Poy Erram. But here is how important the absence of Castro is: the veteran guard was the MVP of the finals last November, when TNT killed Ginebra for the title of the Governors Cup.
“We could make our adjustments here and there, but after a while, it will really be summed up to who is able to do it on the ground,” said Reyes. “Whether we are familiar or not (with Ginebra), the decisive factor is what will happen on the ground.”
Oftana will be the main offensive weapon of Tropang Giga after posting 18.1 points per game this conference. He is considered the best player in the conference prize with Arvin Tolentino from Cinderella semi-finalist Northport.
Tolentino is third with 36.3 statistical points while Oftana is fifth at 31.9. June Mar Fajardo de San Miguel Beer is ahead of 42.0, followed by Robert Bolick de Nlex (37.1), with the recruit of Converge Jordan in fourth place (32.6) but it is unlikely that he obtained votes after having failed to make the semi-finals.
Another element is the import match, Hollis-Jefferson and Brownlee renewing what has become one of the best rivalries in the PBA among foreign players.
Hollis-Jefferson remains the engine that keeps TNT on the march, even while having to fast while respecting the sacred month of Ramadan. His performance, not only against the rain or the sun in the semi-finals, but also for most of the conference, made him the main candidate for the best import.
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Hollis-Jefferson is ahead of this race with 52.7 statistical points, followed by Kadeem Jack from Northport (49.8), Deon Thompson de Rain or Shine (46.8) and Brownlee (43.5).
