The TNT Tropang Giga are on the cusp of winning the championship. One more win and they will be adding another title to the franchise’s collection. 

But closing out the series against a “Never-Say-Die” Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is always going to be easier said than done. Will TNT finish it all off in Game 6 after a 99-72 win in Game 5? Or, will Ginebra force a Game 7?

Catch this game live on Friday,  November 8 at 7:35 pm, Manila time.

TNT Tropang Giga (3-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• Rey Nambatac
• RR Pogoy
• Calvin Oftana
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• JP Erram

After a tight first quarter in Game 5, the Tropang Giga blew it all wide open with a monster second period where they outscored Ginebra by 17 points. TNT did not look back since, following it up with a strong third period before doing just enough to snuff the Barangay’s uprising in the final quarter. 

The Tropang Giga’s stout defense did its job again, as TNT held Ginebra to just 32.0 percent shooting from the field and only 7-for-29 from the 3-point region. How good was TNT’s defense? The Tropang Giga won by nearly 30 points despite Rondae Hollis-Jefferson going just 5-for-14 from the floor for 16 points. Then again, the Tropang Giga found holes in Ginebra’s defense, with their wings and guards repeatedly punishing the Barangay. RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Jayson Castro each scoring at least 10 points while shooting above 60 percent from the floor. 

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-3)

Projected Starting Five:

• Scottie Thompson
• Maverick Ahanmisi
• Stephen Holt
• Justin Brownlee
• Japeth Aguilar

Oh no! Ginebra’s back is against the wall heading into the sixth game of the TNT series. That means there could be no big game on Sunday. But that depends largely on what kind of Ginebra will show up this Friday. What’s certain is that the Barangay can’t have the same lackluster performance on both ends of the field that they had in Game 5. First of all, Ginebra needs Justin Brownlee to be Justin Brownlee. 

The naturalized Filipino only had 8 points on a brutal 3-for-13 shooting in Game 5. He had 10 rebounds and three assists, but his scoring output in Game 5 – not to mention the inefficiency on offense – is what gets imports replaced usually. That said, Brownlee has been in too many big games in the PBA. He knows what his team needs, and the Barangay, despite his bad Game 5, surely has complete trust in him to regain his form in a do-or-die contest this Friday. Brownlee aside, Stephen Holt, RJ Abarrientos, and Maverick Ahanmisi will have to get it going. Those three combined for just 18 points 5-for-24 shooting. Ouch.

Picks

Spread: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (+1.5)

Over/Under: Over (188.5)