The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is just right outside the door to ultimate glory, ready to claim the grandest and most-coveted prize in Season 45 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), which is the Philippine Cup.
They are knocking but will it remain closed? The answer lies on the TNT Tropang Giga. Will they put up a gallant stand to prevent the Gin Kings from going past the door to claim glory, or will they simply roll over?
Game time tonight is at 6 pm at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Center and Cultural Arena.
Tim Cone, the Kings’ coach and the winningest one in PBA history, pointed out that it’s easier said than done, though he acknowledges their advantage.
He knows that the Tropa is a team rich in history and full of pride and will not give the Kings the opportunity to just take the crown. TNT will most certainly fight tooth and nail just like wounded tigers to keep the Kings from doing so.
But the Gin Kings are adamant, healthy, inspired and fully motivated, just like their court general LA Tenorio, whose only missing trophy in his cabinet is the All-Filipino crown. It has been his wish to win it for the longest time and judging by the way he played last Sunday, he is definitely going for it.
Basketball pundits are putting the Gin Kings to win it. It is because the Tropa continues to miss the services of their most reliable players, Jayson Castro and Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. due to injuries and are certainly at a disadvantage. TNT coach Bong Ravena, however, hopes to get a lift from their support crew if they were to live another day.
The fact that the Gin Kings remain healthy works for them in their quest for glory but still, Cone will not be complacent. Closing out the series, he admits, will be difficult and they all have to do everything to earn it.
So will it be the Gin Kings, who will have the chance to disprove the “Asa kay Brownlee” tag by winning the All-Filipino crown? Or will it be the Tropa, who will try to live another day, or at least three days, to snatch the title?