The TNT Tropang Giga will be going for the kill this Friday, as they are just a win away from winning the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup title. But that’s going to be easier said than done, as the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are always a tough out.

Catch this game live on Friday, April 21 at 5:45 pm.

TNT Tropang Giga (3-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Kib Montalbo
• SG: Mikey Williams
• SF: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• PF: Calvin Oftana
• C: Poy Erram

The Tropang Giga are smelling blood in the water. After embarrassing the Barangay in a 104-95 win in Game 5, TNT is in a great position to finish off Ginebra this Friday. It’s hard to know how healthy Ginebra import Justin Brownlee will be in Game 6, but it’s fair to expect that even if he plays, he’s not going to be at 100%. As for the import situation for TNT, it can’t be any more golden. Rondae-Hollis Jefferson continues to live up to the hype, scoring 32 points on 13/26 shooting from the field with 16 rebounds, and 10 assists in Game 5. 

Despite a high usage, he only had two turnovers. An efficient, almost-unguardable import is what RHJ has been so far in the Finals and it does look like he’s got plenty of gas left in the tank. He’s not lacking support either, with five TNT locals scoring at least 10 points in Game 5, led by Calvin Oftana who had 20. TNT has also won the possession battle by a wide margin in the last two games. The Tropang Giga had 12 more field-goal attempts than Ginebra in Game 4 and were +15 in Game 5. They’re shooting more and converting at a higher rate. That’s a problem for Ginebra.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-3)

Projected Starting Five:

• PG: Scottie Thompson
• SG: Stanley Pringle
• SF: Jamie Malonzo
• PF: Justin Brownlee
• C: Christian Standhardinger

The big question for the Barangay is if Justin Brownlee will be at an acceptable form in Game 6 — if he even plays at all. Given the fact that Ginebra is on the ropes in this series, it’s fair to expect Brownlee to suit up this Friday. Brownlee reportedly was brought to the hospital after Game 5 because of severe food poisoning but still scored 14 points in 25 minutes in the loss before leaving the contest. He could feel much better this Friday, which can be enough for him to give the Barangay that much-needed oomph. 

In any case, the Barangay will continue riding the hot hands of Christian Standhardinger, who bullied his way to a 29-point night last Wednesday while also collecting 13 rebounds and dishing out four dimes. No one from TNT is going to completely take out C-Stand, so expect him to post big numbers again in Game 6. Hopefully for Ginebra, Jamie Malonzo, Scottie Thompson, and Stanley Pringle recapture their touches on offense after each shot so inefficiently in Game 5.

PREDICTION:

Spread: TNT (+4.5) covers the spread.

Over/Under: The total (205.0) hits the Under.