More than 54
Coach Tim Cone knows he needs to strike that perfect balance between Justin Brownlee putting up big numbers and the local lineup contributing heavily if Barangay Ginebra wants to land the knockout punch on TNT.
The problem is finding that sweet spot.
“If you have some ideas, you can tell me,” Cone said. “Honestly, that’s what we’re searching for.”
Sunday showdown
Brownlee’s 54-point performance on Friday helped the Gin Kings escape with a 100-95 triumph in Game 5, handing them a 3-2 series edge in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
A win on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum will hand Ginebra the crown, but Cone is hoping the team would not need another 50-piece from its import to close out TNT.
The 38-year-old Brownlee wheeled the Gin Kings back from an 87-80 deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, before some of the locals in RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario came through in the extension.
“We’re searching for cracks in their game plan that we can take advantage of,” Cone said, before noting that the Tropang 5G took a page out of the crowd favorites’ semifinal opponent in the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Ginebra managed to beat Rain or Shine in six games in the Final Four, but had to go through the wringer in almost each of those contests.
“We’re trying to find ways to take the pressure off Justin, and it’s difficult because of the way they’re been playing us. So it’s back to the drawing board, and we’ll try to figure out some more,” added Cone.
Ginebra has not won a title since the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup, having lost its next three trips to the Finals, all against TNT.
Last season, the Gin Kings came up one win shy of claiming the Commissioner’s Cup after gaining a 3-2 lead in the series.
But TNT won Game 6, before prevailing in a classic decider that went into overtime.
Wasted chance
The Tropang 5G will attempt to replicate that behind import Chris McCullough and RR Pogoy, who were the main reasons why they took command in the second half and went up by as high as 11.
But TNT couldn’t finish the job, and was left to lament not just a wasted chance, but also what it felt was poor officiating.
While the team opted not to call out the referees publicly, coach Chot Reyes once again uttered what has become his signature line in this Finals.
“Excellent officiating,” Reyes said, sarcastically.
“[A difference of] 29 to 17 in free throws? You can’t beat a strong Ginebra team like that with the discrepancies in free throws,” Reyes said.
“If the calls were a bit better then maybe we could have a chance [to win].”
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