TNT and Ginebra set for pivotal Game 5 clash in PBA Finals

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals is now a virtual best-of-three as TNT Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel face off in Game 5 on Friday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. The winner of this crucial matchup will take a 3-2 series lead and move one step closer to the championship.

The Kings had a chance to seize control after a dominant Game 3 victory, but TNT responded strongly in Game 4, winning 106-98. Led by Jordan Heading and Chris McCullough, the Tropang 5G held off a late Ginebra rally to even the series at 2-2.

A notable trend in the series so far is the alternating wins, with neither team able to secure back-to-back victories. TNT will be aiming to become the first to do so in Game 5 and move within one win of defending their title.

“It’s now down to a best-of-three. The longer the series goes, the more it becomes a battle of attrition,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

Ginebra, on the other hand, is determined to bounce back from their Game 4 loss.

“We got beat up in the second half. They just totally outplayed us,” lamented coach Tim Cone. “We looked really tired.”

According to Tiger Score, TNT is a +2.5 underdog, with the over/under total set at 197.0 points.

Newly crowned Best Player of the Conference RJ Abarrientos and Best Import Justin Brownlee carried Ginebra in Game 3, but received little support in Game 4. Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt combined for just nine points on poor shooting, while the bench also struggled to contribute.

In contrast, TNT got solid production from veterans Jayson Castro and Henry Galinato as coach Chot Reyes effectively used a nine-man rotation.

With the series back to square one, Game 5 is expected to be a fierce battle of will and execution as both teams push toward the championship.