PBA Finals: TNT carries extra weapons into duel vs Ginebra

Rondae Hollis Jefferson leads TNT to a PBA Governors’ Cup Finals return after ousting Rain or SHine. –PBA IMAGES

Like Barangay Ginebra, TNT will also be making a return to the league’s grandest stage when it aims to repeat as PBA Governors’ Cup champion following a season marred by adversities.

The Tropang Giga were eliminated in the quarterfinals of both the Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup during a challenging 2023-2024 season that saw injuries to key players and the much-publicized contract dispute between management and dynamic scorer Mikey Williams.

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“It was a matter of making sure that you have all the tools, all the pieces, at your disposal,” said coach Chot Reyes, whose team will try to overcome Ginebra in the best-of-seven title showdown which begins on Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

TNT won eight of 10 games to top Group A before making short work of NLEX and Rain or Shine in the playoffs mainly behind import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who led the Tropang Giga to the 2023 Governors’ Cup title at the expense of Ginebra.

But Hollis-Jefferson was ably supported by a talented local crew powered by new addition Rey Nambatac, RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Kim Aurin, Glenn Khobuntin and Henry Galinato.

Having Erram back in the fold was among the crucial reasons for TNT’s success at this point, after the 6-foot-7 stretch big missed the previous campaign after undergoing knee surgery.

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Last season also saw Pogoy grope for form after missing the early part of the Commissioner’s Cup due to a rare heart condition. He emerged as TNT’s top local scorer of the ongoing tournament, averaging 13.7 points per game.

Having more weapons surrounding Hollis-Jefferson has boosted TNT, which has been relying on the likes of Oftana, Castro and Williams.

The three were left to carry a huge load, particularly in the Philippine Cup, which eventually ended with a loss to Rain or Shine in the deciding Game 3 of the quarterfinals.

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That’s why Reyes is putting importance on having players as healthy as possible, especially after Williams dealt with a calf injury in Game 1 of the semifinals and Castro was rested in the series-clinching Game 5 due to a nagging knee problem.

“Hopefully we can stay so healthy that we can compete, because it’s gonna be tough facing Ginebra,” said Reyes.

Injury struggles

TNT struggled through injuries last season, which saw Hollis-Jefferson replaced by his brother Rahlir after getting hurt in an East Asia Super League game. The Tropang Giga finished eighth in the Commissioner’s Cup at 5-6 (win-loss) before being booted out by Magnolia in the quarterfinals.

Reyes came back after team manager Jojo Lastimosa handled the team on an interim basis for the Philippine Cup and went 6-5 for fourth in the eliminations, and won Game 1 of the quarterfinal series with Rain or Shine before dropping the next two.

Losing Mikey Williams was huge for TNT after the player, who claimed Finals Most Valuable Player honors for the aforementioned 2023 Governors’ Cup win over Ginebra, couldn’t come to terms with management on a new deal.