With series now race-to-three, Kings, Tropang Giga again seek head start
Barangay Ginebra and TNT go at it again on Wednesday in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup title showdown where style has taken a backseat to survival.
Following two contrasting battles—one a shootout and another a defensive slog—the two clubs break an early series tie at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City at 7:30 p.m. where the Gin Kings, fresh from a grind-out 71-70 win last Sunday, hope to bring more of the same effort on defense.
Stephen Holt believes the only way forward is to keep up the intensity, especially after putting TNT on the back foot last time.
“We were mad we lost Game 1, so we had to show intensity,” said the Ginebra standout, who was among those who smothered Tropang Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the crunch of Game 2. “Now, TNT’s gonna do the exact, same thing.”
“They’ll watch the film, make adjustments and come ready to play. We have to match their intensity,” he added.
Ginebra’s defensive masterclass was truly a sight to behold that Sunday night, as it muzzled not only the TNT ace when it mattered most but also kept the Tropang Giga’s other gunners, Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy, under their usual scoring outputs.
Wishing for offense
“We finished No. 1 in defense this conference. We can turn the tide and bring our defense to the game,” Gin Kings coach Tim Cone said, but not without noting that his charges also need to turn it up on offense.
That defense bottled up Hollis-Jefferson in the last two TNT possessions as Ginebra sealed the win that was accepted by a resounding celebration by its loyal throng.
“We can shoot the ball a little better than we did,” he noted, lamenting the crowd darlings’ 23-for-69 clip from the field.
Cone’s plea couldn’t be more timely, especially with a similar master strategist on the opposite side raring to steer his crew back on track.
“Chot [Reyes] is one of the most brilliant adjustment coaches I’ve ever been around,” Cone said. “There’s going to be an adjustment, and we’ll have to be ready.”
As Game 3 shapes up to be another test of grit, Ginebra resident import Justin Brownlee stressed the need to keep their foot on the pedal.
“We definitely feel good about, you know, winning and tying the series. But there’s still no satisfaction right now,” Brownlee said. “I think we just got to stay hungry, especially given our history [with them].”
