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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Ginebra, TNT wage war in explosive rematch

Ginebra, TNT wage war in explosive rematch

Published Jun 2, 2026 02:17 pm

At A Glance

  • TNT and Barangay Ginebra raises the curtain to what is primed to be another epic collision between two of the most dominant teams in the PBA through the last two seasons as they begin the best-of-seven Season 50 Commissioner's Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, June 3.

TNT and Barangay Ginebra raises the curtain to what is primed to be another epic collision between two of the most dominant teams in the PBA through the last two seasons as they begin the best-of-seven Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, June 3.

Tip-off of the clash is at 7:30 p.m. with both squads determined to draw first blood and set the tone in the series that is widely expected to go the distance.

The contest will mark the beginning of the fourth installment of the TNT-Ginebra Finals rivalry which started in the Season 48 Governors’ Cup when the Tropang 5G and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson handed the Kings their first loss in the Finals when reinforced by Justin Brownlee.

Since then, it has been all TNT as they also won their next two Finals meetings against Ginebra in Season 49 Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.

But for the two veteran coaches who will figure in another chess match in the Finals, it will be a different series with the two teams changing positions this time.

For TNT head coach Chot Reyes, his team is coming in as the underdogs following the injury to Hollis-Jefferson and his supposed high-caliber replacement in Bol Bol. They did have a quality import still in Chris McCullough although he only has three games with TNT under his belt so far.

“If we play our best, we give ourselves a chance. But if we do not play our best, we have no chance,” said Reyes.

“Even if we play our best, it's still a 50-50, but at least we have a chance. But if we do not play our best, then we absolutely have no chance,” he added.

For the side of Tim Cone, the focus is to stay disciplined in their execution and play at their own pace.

“I just think that we have to stay disciplined and be who we are and that's really the key for us is just making sure we go out and we try to play our game and not get too caught up in what the other team is doing,” said Cone.

“If we do that, we have faith that we can come out on top and we just want to make sure we come out and be disciplined and stay to our character which is trying to be defensive-minded and get the ball moving,” he added.

At the forefront for Ginebra is its big 3 in import Justin Brownlee, former league MVP Scottie Thompson and the presumptive Best Player of the Conference winner RJ Abarrientos.

McCullough, on the other hand, will be backstopped by the tried-and-tested TNT core led by Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Jayson Castro, Jordan Heading and Rey Nambatac.

Related Tags

TNT Tropang 5G Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings PBA Finals
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