And then there were two. And boy are they familiar foes and faces. 

The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the TNT Tropang 5G are squaring off once again with a PBA championship hanging in the balance. Both teams seemed to be in for a slugfest early on in their respective semifinal series, but they suddenly found the gumption to slip past their foes and move to within four wins of another title. 

It was a strong showing from Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos that helped the Gin Kings overcome the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Consecutive 30-point performances from Abarrientos made it seem that he was playing inspired basketball instead of Andrei Caracut, whose game has gone missing in the series after the BellDrei saga blossomed.  

Meanwhile, the Tropang 5G outlasted the Meralco Bolts after Chris McCullough rediscovered his form just days after arriving to replace the injured Bol Bol. TNT looked lost and listless as Bol suffered a torn achilles tendon and McCullough shook off rust. But when McCullough had more time with the team, a sense of normalcy returned. 

Much has happened since Ginebra and the Tropang 5G last faced each other in the preliminary round of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. Injuries and some players coming in with a different level of confidence offensively will change the expectations for this series. 

Abarrientos, in particular, is entering a more dangerous offensive threat. The 26-year old has risen to the occasion and taken over during the semifinal series with the Elasto Painters. He’s slowly but surely taken on the mantle as the lead guard for the Gin Kings and this series could firmly establish him as the go-to guy for the foreseeable future.  

TNT is happy to return to the PBA finals for the fifth consecutive conference after the adversity they went through in this year’s Commissioner’s Cup. They have welcomed and lost players and while this has affected who is in rhythm and who isn’t, they are nonetheless four wins away from another title. Jordan Heading had a solid performance in eliminating the Bolts and while he has often been one of the latter options when on the court, this has not stopped him from stepping up when the occasion calls for it. 

https://youtu.be/NFRxBJjOs_4?si=6AOC_deB_2vWcXXc Other players could step up in the series, as the finals does not have its shortage of breakout stars and unlikely heroes. This isn’t even the first rodeo for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and the TNT Tropang 5G, who have seen each other in the finals more times post-pandemic than other PBA franchises have made finals appearances. It’s unlikely we’ll be in for any surprises, barring any circumstances that fall under force majeure.