Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, two of the best imports in the PBA battle, in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
As Rondae Hollis-Jefferson enters uncharted territory for the first time in his PBA career, he feels that nothing needs to be done out of the ordinary in order for TNT to get its third championship since his debut two years ago.
“I’ve never been to a Game 7,” the ex-NBA player said. “But at the end of the day, it’s basketball. It’s do-or-die for both sides, it’s win-or-go-home and it’s about giving everything or don’t show up.”
The decider of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals tips off at 7:30 p.m. at an expected sold-out Smart Araneta Coliseum, with many wanting to see a thriller of a finish to a series that may go down as one of the best title showdowns in league history.
LIVE: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 7
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone has had his share of victories and defeats in the game, sometimes described as the “best two words in sports.” But for the great mentor seeking a record-extending 26th title, Game 7s are the same.
“They’re never going to be just another game,” Cone said. “They’re tough ones.”
The winner not only gets to lift the trophy of the midseason conference, but also earns bragging rights to a rivalry that continues to grow after three Finals matchups since Hollis-Jefferson faced the Justin Brownlee-led Ginebra team in the 2023 Governors’ Cup.
TNT won that series in six, then replicated that in the season-opening Governors’ Cup at Ginebra’s expense once more. The Tropang Giga got another chance after riding high on Hollis-Jefferson’s all-around play, another consistent play from Rey Nambatac and Poy Erram’s incredible composure to deny the Gin Kings’ first of two cracks to wrap it up, 87-83, two nights ago.
The battle cry
“I think I’m ready,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “I think I have that mindset of coming in and giving it my all, fighting like always to help us win. So that’s the mindset going in, do whatever it takes.”
Those will be the expected battle cry of the rest of the Tropang Giga, with Nambatac aiming for a terrific climax to an impressive Finals performance and for Erram to be a positive factor and avoid another episode like he did in Games 2 and 5 when his tantrums got the best of him.
How Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy perform on both ends could be crucial as well after seesaw outputs since the Finals began two weeks ago. And for TNT as a collective unit, it’s for better execution in the fourth quarter, like it did in Game 6.
Cone is 6-4 all-time in Game 7s of the Finals for Alaska, B-Meg/San Mig Coffee and Ginebra. He’s also 1-1 in a deciding Game 5 of a Finals and won a winner-take-all Game 3 of the 2003 Invitational while with Alaska.
Brownlee is looking to cap off a Finals that almost ended for him early when he sustained a dislocated right thumb in Game 3, and a victory which would make him the winningest import of all-time with seven.
He almost pulled it off in Game 6, only for Ginebra to fall short.
Brownlee knows the feeling of playing a Game 7, when Ginebra beat Meralco for the 2017 Governors’ Cup before 54,000 people at Philippine Arena. He would like to do the same for the Gin Kings and their score of followers.
Scottie Thompson saw his run of consistent play ending in Game 6 and will be out for redemption. What versions of Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Maverick Ahanmisi, Troy Rosario or RJ Abarrientos will show up could also help decide the outcome.