TNT enters Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to lead Tropang Giga into the PBA Finals. –PBA IMAGES
TNT just succeeded in setting up a title match with Barangay Ginebra as coach Jojo Lastimosa described his and his team’s position to advance to the biggest stage of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
“I have nothing to lose. Our team has nothing to lose,” Lastimosa announced after Tropang Giga’s 107-92 win over Meralco Bolts in Friday’s Game 4 semi-final at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tapped into deciding this meeting with Chot Reyes to focus on Gilas Pilipinas’ mission, Lastimosa accepts the reality that TNT faces ahead of the seven-man title clash starting on Easter Sunday. , April 9, at the same location.
Ginebra will be aiming for a third consecutive title and fifth title in the last six games, plus an eighth title during the tenure of coach Tim Cone, who has coached Lastimosa in the past few years. Alaska’s glory years in the 1990s.
“He’s been there, he’s done it and things are going well for them, and people are expecting Ginebra to win this series, this championship,” Lastimosa said.
But that doesn’t mean Lastimosa and Tropang Giga will let the Gin Kings claim another title.
Tropang Giga showed their ability to eliminate Bolts, gaining another big hit from imported Rondae Hollis-Jefferson while being heavily backed by Calvin Oftana, Mikey Williams, RR Pogoy, Jayson Castro and Poy Erram .
monster number
Hollis-Jefferson scored 42 points with 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as he took the lead in the breakaway third inning, which signaled doom for the Bolts, who forced to play catch up the rest of the way.
Those numbers though are subject to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where he can only eat before sunrise and after sunset.
Despite embracing the underdog tag, Lastimosa is also confident that TNT can win the job.
“We’re just here to ruin the party, and hopefully we can come up with a good game plan and a good game like we did today in this series, and we’ve got Rondae. stand on your side. So I’m fine with that,” said the Tropang Giga mentor.
Plans
The next step is for TNT to take advantage of Holy Week to map out a plan to break Ginebra’s title record under Cone and import resident Justin Brownlee, who finished 6/6 in the Finals.
The Hollis-Jefferson-Brownlee match is expected to attract a lot of attention, something that the former have been looking forward to.
“I’m a competitor,” said the former Brooklyn Net in the NBA. “If you put me against anyone, I like my chance.”
Ginebra and TNT will compete for the grand finals for the first time since the Philippine Cup 2020 bubble. Gin Kings dominated five games in Pampanga as injuries raged in Tropang Giga.
Meralco’s bid for a fifth title clash with Ginebra ended despite a determined performance from import KJ McDaniels, who had 37 points and 12 rebounds.
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