The TNT Tropang Giga has the Ginebra Gin Kings' number, prevailing over the crowd favorite in the Season 47 and Season 49 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
TNT and Ginebra will square off for diadem for the second straight time in PBA Season 49.
Just four months after their Governors’ Cup conquest, the Tropang Giga get a shot at the Commissioner’s Cup championship against the Gin Kings once again.
But this time, it will only be tougher for coach Chot Reyes and his squad.
The TNT Tropang Giga will have to make up for the loss of injured star Jayson Castro. | File photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
This as TNT faces a stacked Gin Kings side without its star and last conference's Finals Most Valuable Player Jayson Castro, who went down with a right knee injury in the semifinals.
But Reyes said the rest of the locals have proven they can play well even without Castro. That is why the Tropang Giga are beaming with optimism heading into the best-of-seven finale.
Game 1 is slated Friday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
[RELATED STORY: Ginebra eyes redemption vs TNT in latest Finals clash in PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup]
How the TNT Tropang Giga got to the Finals
With Rondae Hollis-Jefferson dominating and Castro playing at full strength, the Tropang Giga cruised to an 8-4 mark at the end of the elimination round.
That landed them the second spot for a twice-to-beat advantage against guest team Eastern in the quarterfinals.
TNT quickly dispatched the Hong Kong-based squad via a 109-93 win, before prevailing in a hard-fought race-to-four semifinal contest win over Rain or Shine.
Though it only took them five games, Reyes stressed how tough it was to triumph in a close series that could have gone either way.
[RELATED STORY: PBA Finals a preview of TNT life after Jayson Castro? Calvin Oftana doesn’t think so]
Previous Finals matchup vs TNT
The brewing rivalry between the two perennial contenders, Ginebra and TNT, started in the 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals.
After the Gin Kings went up, 2-1, in the series, the Tropang Giga chalked up three straight wins behind eventual Finals Most Valuable Player Mikey Williams to claim the championship.
Over a year later, TNT and Ginebra met again, this time in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
But Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was simply too much for Justin Brownlee and the Gin Kings.
After an even 2-2 start, the Tropang Giga finally figured out the Gin Kings and took the next two games, thanks in large part to RHJ and eventual Finals MVP Castro.
Now that they will face Ginebra for the third time, the Tropang Giga is aiming for nothing less than silencing the most popular team once more to claim the franchise’s 11th PBA title.