Whatever it takes

Game today:

(Philsports Arena)

7:30 p.m. — San Miguel vs TNT

Whatever it takes.

At this point, all the defiant TNT could do is scrape whatever is left in its tank and once again summon its adopted never-say-die spirit to live to fight another game.

Running on fumes, the grand slam-seeking Tropang 5G seek to survive Game 6 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals against a San Miguel Beer side raring to close it out today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

TNT marches into the 7:30 p.m. encounter with just one thing in mind: send the best-of-seven series to a decider in the same venue on Sunday.

The Tropang 5G staved off elimination by stopping a three-game bleeding with an 86-79 statement win in Game 5 on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Head coach Chot Reyes hopes his men’s will and determination will be enough to survive another win-or-go-home situation.

And the Tropang 5G, who are now tied with the 1995 Alaska team with the most number of games played in a single season at 75, have to do it without center Poy Erram and guard Simon Enciso.

The veteran big man is declared out for the rest of the title series after going down with a meniscus tear on his left knee that requires surgery. Enciso, on the other hand, is nursing a fractured orbital bone.

Both were out in Game 5.

“We won’t have Poy, we won’t have Simon and I just heard that we are going to play already our 75th game on Friday, which is the most in PBA history ever,” the 11-time champion coach Reyes said.

“And it’s been a very, very long season. The players are just playing on sheer grit and heart at this point.”

Surviving has been the battle cry of TNT in the season-ending conference.

From clawing back from a 0-3 start in the elimination round, taking down twice-to-beat Magnolia in the quarterfinals and hurdling a young and physical Rain or Shine sans the first two conferences’ Finals Most Valuable Players Jayson Castro (knee) and Rey Nambatac (groin) is already a miracle.

Reyes prays for another one or if not too much, two, to realize a triple crown bid that was spoiled 14 years ago by the same rival.

“Whatever it takes, without Poy and without Simon, as long as we have five guys who can walk, we’re going to keep fighting,” said Reyes, who remains in the hunt for a seventh career all-Filipino crown.

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams, who held their ground against San Miguel behemoth June Mar Fajardo in Game 5, are expected to deliver the same gritty performance.

Reyes will also lead on Glenn Khobuntin, who is set to become the league’s lone player to log in 75 games — or possibly a 76th — in one season, Jordan Heading, Calvin Oftana and Almond Vosotros.

RR Pogoy will also need to wake up from a scoring stupor to help TNT’s cause.

San Miguel, on the other hand, will get another chance to capture a 30th title overall and 11th all-local crown.

But the Beermen will have to take care of the ball after committing 13 turnovers that TNT converted to 20 turnover points in Game 5.