Tropang Giga wary of ‘upgraded’ Kings

Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

5 p.m. — Eastern vs Terrafirma

7:30 p.m. — TNT vs Barangay Ginebra

TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra rekindle their rivalry in a much-anticipated clash in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

But more than the continuation of the grudge match between the two teams that figured in the finals of the previous tournament, the marquee showdown set at 7:30 p.m. will define their direction in the playoffs seat race.

The Tropang Giga are on a scorching run, winning all of their last five games after a 0-2 start to move into a good position for the top two spots in the quarterfinals.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes acknowledges the weight of the match, so he warns his team to play better defensively against a fortified Kings side that has added former Tropang Giga Troy Rosario and seen the return of athletic forward Jamie Malonzo.

“It’s going to be very different. That’s a much better and upgraded Ginebra team. But this team we know how to put our heads down and grind it out and put in the work,” Reyes said heading into the rematch against the team it beat in six games in the 2024 Governors’ Cup championship series.

What also worries the mentor is the way his wards handled their 94-87 win over skidding NLEX last Wednesday and the short recovery time before facing Justin Brownlee, RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Rosario and Malonzo.

“It’s a huge game for us. The one thing I’m sure of is that if we play this way on Friday, we cannot win. We have to play a lot better than we did tonight,” Reyes said.

“The problem is we have one day off. They (Ginebra) are gonna be pretty well-rested coming into the game but that’s a good challenge for us to have. Like I said I never sell these players short. They always get up and they always fight in the tough games.”

Ginebra, on the other hand, has enough rest following an 86-63 blowout of Blackwater last Sunday to get back on the winning track for a 6-3 slate.

Just like Reyes, Kings tactician Tim Cone wants to see more consistency from his team especially in the tough elimination round closing stretch against TNT, Rain or Shine on Wednesday next week and Meralco on 29 January.

“It’s really about consistency — consistent effort and focus — and we just haven’t been showing that throughout this conference,” Cone said.

“It’s hard to keep that intensity up all the time, but as the playoffs come closer, I expect our guys to become more consistent and to lock in a little bit more with our defense.”

Ginebra will have its hands full with familiar headaches in two-time Best Import winner Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, RR Pogoy, JP Erram, Rey Nambatac, Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana and Kelly Williams.

Meanwhile, guest team Hong Kong Eastern and winless Terrafirma square off at 5 p.m.