Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7:30 p.m. – TNT vs Ginebra

Mayroon nang ginintuang pagkakataon ang TNT Tropang Giga na ibaon sa malalim na 3-0 hole ang Barangay Ginebra ngayong Game 3 ng kanilang Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup best-of-seven finals series ngayong araw sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ang oras ng laro ay 7:30 p.m. sa pagmamartsa ng Tropang Giga nang may kumpiyansa kasunod ng kanilang mahusay na 96-84 na tagumpay sa Game 2 na naglagay sa kanila ng dalawang panalo mula sa pagtatanggol sa kanilang titulo.

Inaasahang kukuha ng defensive attention si Rondae Hollis-Jefferson matapos maglaro na parang gutom na hayop sa Game 2 na may 37 puntos at 13 rebounds sa 48 minutong aksyon.

Ngunit sinabi ni TNT coach Chot Reyes na mas itutuon nila ang kanilang depensa para sa tagumpay na maglalagay sa makapangyarihang Kings sa bingit.

“Our attention really is on our defense. That was our focus. Just knowing what Ginebra wants to do and trying our best to stop them and make them work for it,” sabi ni Reyes, na ang mga ward ay nakakuha ng 10 puntos at 17 fastbreak points mula sa 11 error ng Ginebra sa Game 2.

Plano ni Reyes na limitahan ang produksyon ng import ng Ginebra na si Justin Brownlee gayundin ang support crew na binandera nina Scottie Thompson at Japeth Aguilar.

“You cannot stop Justin Brownlee. He’s such a great player. At least make it difficult for him,” sabi ng Gilas Pilipinas head coach, na ang defensive pressure ay naglimita kay Brownlee sa 19 na puntos lamang sa isang maasim na 7-of-17 field goal shooting.

“Make him work for it, same with Scottie (Thompson) and Japeth (Aguilar),” dagdag niya.

Gayunpaman, iginiit ni Reyes na kailangan nilang tratuhin ang Game 3 na parang wala silang anumang bentahe.

“Nakalimutan ko na. Wala pa sa isip ko iyon sa ngayon,” Reyes said, stressing that Ginebra has the ability to rise from any kind of adversity.

Samantala, sinabi ni Thompson na hindi nila kayang malungkot kung gusto nilang palawigin pa ang serye at masungkit ang titulong natakasan nila nang talunin sila ng TNT noong nakaraang taon.

“For us right now we have to think positive. We know we’re down 0-2 but the series is not yet over,” sabi ni Thompson. “Hopefully we can show our ‘Never Say Die’ spirit in this series.”

Inamin ni Kings head coach Tim Cone na nalampasan siya ni Reyes ngunit nangakong susuriin muli ang kanilang mga paglalaro at gagawa ng paraan para makabalik sa TNT.

“I don’t know what’s going on. I’m totally being outcoached and outclassed by Chot. I feel bad for our players because I’m not helping them at all,” sabi ni Cone. “We’ll figure out what’s going on, but right now I’m just being totally outcoached.”

Samantala, walang pakialam si Rondae Hollis-Jefferson na laruin ang buong laro kung hahantong ito sa titulo ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup.

Naglaro ang prolific reinforcement sa buong 48 minuto para pangunahan ang Tropang Giga sa 96-84 panalo kontra Barangay Ginebra sa Game 2 ng kanilang best-of-seven finals series noong Miyerkules sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Bumagsak si Hollis-Jefferson ng 37 points at 13 rebounds para tulungan ang Tropang Giga na makakuha ng 2-0 series lead.

“I was blessed. It also comes with the work ethic, you know, putting in that extra work, cardio, not being afraid to do cardio on your off seasons and running, I think that goes a long way,” sabi ni Hollis-Jefferson. “Chot (Reyes) is big on being in shape. I know I can’t come into the season catching my breath. So, when I come here, I just got to be ready.”