NOW THE WAIT BEGINS
Rey Nambatac and Poy Erram let out all their emotions upon returning to the dugout as TNT took another step in its mission to complete the ultimate goal.
While the two whooped it up after closing out Rain or Shine, 113-95, on Wednesday at Ynares Center here in Antipolo to reach the PBA Governors’ Cup, veterans Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes acted like it was another day in the office.
Regardless of how each player reacted to their 4-1 series triumph in the semifinals, the Tropang Giga have good reasons to savor being closer to their quest to win the championship of the season-opening conference.
“I’m not thinking of any big thing except the next thing,” said coach Chot Reyes, who will give himself and his team time to enjoy the spoils of being the first team to reach the Finals before buckling down to work once more.
TNT advanced to the championship series after the clock struck midnight on Rain or Shine’s dream Governors’ Cup run, and will get the luxury of a longer respite with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer needing at least one more game to finish their own semifinal duel.
And on the back of another herculean performance from import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Tropang Giga returned to the PBA’s ultimate stage for the first time since the NBA starter and Mikey Williams led the charge to the 2023 Governors’ Cup crown.
Last season saw TNT endure a couple of quarterfinal exits in the Commissioner’s Cup with Hollis-Jefferson failing to complete his duties with an injury and the Philippine Cup, when it fell to the same Rain or Shine squad in a short three-game battle.
Finals first-timer
The Tropang Giga will now watch as Ginebra and resident import Justin Brownlee try to close out June Mar Fajardo-powered San Miguel Beer on Sunday for the right to battle TNT for the ultimate prize.
“I think they’re both talented teams but we’re only gonna face one,” said Hollis-Jefferson. “So we gonna wait which one it is and then I’ll get my predictions.”
Hollis-Jefferson finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals in another outing that epitomized his great play throughout the campaign.
RR Pogoy was the highest local scorer, with 19, to cap off the TNT triumph that enabled Nambatac to finally reach his first PBA Finals at the expense of his former team Rain or Shine. Rain or Shine never recovered after TNT built a huge lead that left coach Yeng Guiao with no options but to live through the agony of defeat.
The ElastoPainters finished off a conference where they won their first four games and gave teams like San Miguel and Ginebra fits before topping Group B with a 7-3 record.
Rain or Shine survived Magnolia in the quarterfinals that went a full five games behind Andrei Caracut, Jhonard Clarito and import Aaron Fuller, among many heroes, before its fortunes ran out against TNT.
