Gin Kings hope ‘charm’ finally pushes them past Tropang Giga
Going without a title for more than two years can be considered as a long drought for a high-caliber team like Barangay Ginebra.
That’s a streak the Gin Kings aim to end in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, hoping the third time will finally be the charm against the TNT Tropang Giga.
“We just have to stay focused and sharpen our tools in practice,” Japeth Aguilar said. “Hopefully, we can have a great series against them.”
Ginebra is seeking its first championship since winning the 2022-2023 edition of the midseason tournament, when it edged out guest team Bay Area Dragons in a thrilling series that ended in a Game 7 before a record crowd of 54,589 at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Since then, titles have eluded the Gin Kings and their passionate fan base, with the team falling short in the next four conferences—twice at the hands of Tropang Giga in the 2023 Governors’ Cup and this season’s version of that tournament.
Last season also marked the first time under coach Tim Cone that Ginebra failed to win a title, suffering semifinal exits against San Miguel Beer in the Commissioner’s Cup and Meralco in the Philippine Cup.
While the current drought isn’t as long as the eight-year dry spell the franchise endured from 2008 to 2016, it’s still an unusual stretch for a team with such a high-powered roster. That 2016 championship, which capped Cone’s first year at Ginebra’s helm, also marked the beginning of Justin Brownlee’s legendary tenure with the squad.
“They’ve had our number,” Brownlee said of TNT. “They’ve played well in the last two Finals, but hopefully, we can change some things and get a different outcome this time.”
Game 1 of the series is set for Friday at Mall of Asia Arena, where Ginebra will not only look to turn the tide against TNT but also restore San Miguel Corporation’s dominance in the league.
Beyond Ginebra’s struggles against TNT in the Finals, SMC teams have lost the last two conferences to squads under the MVP Group and three of the last four overall.
Along with TNT’s back-to-back Finals victories over Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup, Meralco claimed its first-ever championship by defeating San Miguel in last season’s Philippine Cup. The only exception in that stretch was San Miguel’s six-game conquest of fellow SMC side Magnolia in the 2023-2024 Commissioner’s Cup.
Many see Ginebra having an edge this time, with Troy Rosario aiming to finish his first full conference with the team as a champion, and Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray returning from injuries.
TNT, meanwhile, is still adjusting to the season-ending knee injury of Jayson Castro, a crucial absence that could tip the scales—unless its local players step up and compensate for the loss of their undisputed leader.
