TNT, GSM agawan sa 3-2 lead

MANILA, Philippines — Tabla sa 2-2 sa kanilang best-of-seven championship series, inaasahang magpapatayan ang Barangay Ginebra at nagdedepensang TNT Tropang Giga para makalapit sa korona ng Season 49 PBA Governors’ Cup.

Paglalabanan ng Gin Kings at Tropang Giga ang mahalagang 3-2 lead sa Game Five ngayong alas-7:30 ng gabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Matapos kunin ng TNT ang Game One, 104-88, at Game Two, 96-84, rumesbak ang Ginebra sa Game Three, 85-73, at Game Four, 106-92, para itabla sa 2-2 ang kanilang titular showdown.

Hangad ng Gin Kings ang ika-15 korona, habang ang pang-10 titulo ang puntirya ng Tropang Giga.

“Everybody wants to win so badly that it’s never just about making shots. It’s always about how much guys are going to defend and rebound and hustle. And that’s what we’ve been able to do this last two games,” ani Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Target ng 66-anyos na si Cone ang pang-25 titulo bilang coach.

Kumpiyansa si TNT mentor Chot Reyes na makakabawi sila mula sa dalawang sunod na kamalasan.

“In a seven game series of two very good teams, the momentum can really shift both ways. Yeah, they definitely have the momentum and we have to find a way to stop it,” wika ng 61-anyos na nine-time PBA champion coach.

Muling aasahan ng Gin Kings sina import Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt at Maverick A­hanmisi katapat sina Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy at Poy Erram ng Tropang Giga.