WINNING the closeout game maybe the hardest, but Barangay Ginebra will surely go for the kill in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals against TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra import Justin Brownlee was the first to admit that beating TNT in the pivotal Game 6 will not be an easy job.

“TNT is a great team as the past has shown. They beat us two times in the finals so we know it’s not going to be easy. We will come and try with all our might (to clinch it),” said Brownlee on the eve of the all-important game scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

“The hardest game in my opinion and in my experience is always the closeout game,” added Brownlee, who teamed-up with Scottie Thompson in leading the Gin Kings to a decisive 73-66 victory and a 3-2 lead over the Tropang Giga last Sunday.

His TNT counterpart, TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, is not giving up, however.

“I see us fighting like hell, fighting to win, fighting to play an excellent game, fighting to give maximum effort all 48 minutes, whether we go up or not, and just staying locked in,”said Hollis-Jefferson.

“(Coach) Chot Reyes said it to us — it’s about mental (toughness), like our mentality going into those crucial moments, turning (the ball) over, being wrong on a defensive play, allowing someone to jump up the screen,” he added.

Ginebra is actually looking to redeem itself following back-to-back finals losses to the Tropang Giga and regain the championship since their 2023 Commissioner’s Cup conquest of the Bay Area Dragons.

Last Sunday, Brownlee scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to power Ginebra to a tense victory over TNT.

Brownlee, who went 9-of-15 from the floor, added 14 rebounds and five assists in 45 minutes of action for the Tim Cone-mentored Kings.

Thompson also stepped up in a big way for Ginebra, as he added a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Game Wednesday:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7:30 p.m.– TNT vs. Barangay Ginebra

The results:

Game 1 — TNT 95, Ginebra 89.
Game 2 — Ginebra 71, TNT 70.
Game 3 –TNT 87, Ginebra 85.
Game 4 –Ginebra 95, TNT 78.
Game 5 — Ginebra 73, TNT 66.
(Ginebra leads series, 3-2)

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya