TNT, Ginebra Look to Punch Finals Tickets in Crucial Game 6 Showdowns

TNT Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra stand just one victory away from setting up another championship showdown as they aim to close out their respective semifinal series in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Both squads hold 3-2 leads and have the opportunity to finish off their opponents in Game 6, potentially arranging a rematch of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The two longtime rivals battled for the title in Season 49, with TNT and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson prevailing in a hard-fought seven-game series against the Gin Kings.

Despite being on the brink of another Finals appearance, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone remains focused solely on Rain or Shine ahead of their 5:15 p.m. encounter.

The veteran mentor has not forgotten how the Kings squandered a 3-2 Finals lead against TNT last conference. The Tropang 5G narrowly captured Game 6 before completing the comeback with an 87-83 overtime victory in the deciding Game 7 before a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd.

“We’ve been in this situation before. We led 3-2 and then got beat,” Cone said following Ginebra’s 111-104 victory in Game 5. “It’s too easy to get euphoric with the 3-2 lead. We’re not.”

Rain or Shine, meanwhile, remains confident it can extend the series. Head coach Yeng Guiao expressed optimism after his squad’s competitive showing in the previous game and believes the Elasto Painters have what it takes to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

A key concern for Rain or Shine will be slowing down Ginebra’s perimeter attack after the Gin Kings knocked down 16 three-pointers in Game 5. The Elasto Painters will also look to contain RJ Abarrientos, who erupted for 31 points after being limited to just eight in the previous contest.

“I feel they're very positive about the Sunday game,” Guiao said. “You can feel na meron silang kumpiyansa na makakabalik sila. So to me, that’s a good sign.”

Later in the evening, TNT will try to finish off Meralco in their 7:30 p.m. clash and move one step closer to defending its Commissioner’s Cup crown.

The Tropang 5G gained control of the series after a 103-95 Game 5 victory powered by Chris McCullough, who delivered 42 points and 11 rebounds in a dominant performance.

McCullough scored 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, helping TNT pull away late while continuing to regain form after joining the team midway through the series.

His growing chemistry with TNT’s local core, led by Jordan Heading and Roger Pogoy, has quickly become a major factor in the team’s success.

“Just focus on what we have to do, go to practice and work on things we need to work on, and just come out aggressive already,” McCullough said. “We were very aggressive from the start, and that's where we got to go for the next game.”

A victory would send TNT back to the Finals and give the franchise another opportunity to add to its Commissioner’s Cup success after consecutive runner-up finishes in the Philippine Cup.

With the stakes at their highest, both TNT and Ginebra are aiming to take care of business and move one step closer to another collision on the league’s biggest stage.