By REYNALD MAGALLON
Will history repeat itself or will fortunes change this time around?
Regardless of the possible outcomes, the best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals duel between Barangay Ginebra and TNT is expected to be another dogfight as they found themselves on the collision course once more for the coveted crown.
For one, it’s not too long ago when the two proud franchises figured in a Finals match for the same Governors’ Cup title with the Tropang Giga coming out on top against the Kings, 4-2.
While the same teams are starring for the second-straight finals, a lot has changed since their last meeting with both teams parading retooled rosters although the same personalities – imports, coaches, and national team players – are expected to take the spotlight like the last time.
The sideline chess match will be interesting with two of the most accomplished coaches in TNT’s Chot Reyes and Ginebra’s Tim Cone also expected to engage in a battle of coaching wits and adjustments every game.
Both coaches have met six times in the finals in their careers with both of them winning three titles at each other’s expense. Reyes, however, was not the Tropang Giga’s top mentor when TNT defeated Cone and Ginebra last time out.
“We worked so hard to be at this point and now it’s almost a do-or-die and it’s gonna be really disappointing for us as an organization if we don’t win this but if we do we will be really ecstatic,” said Cone during the Finals press conference at the Atrium at the Enderun College on Thursday, Oct. 24.
“That’s the kind of where we are right now. I think our players are ready. I’m sure TNT is ready. Can’t wait to get it on,” he added.
“I’m just very happy to be here playing against a tough team and an excellent coach. I think in the end, magkakatalo iyon how the players execute and how the teams are able exert their own style of play,” said Reyes on the other hand.
“I know there’s a lot of talk about me and Tim but I’m sure definitely pthe players are going to determining how the outcome of the series is going to be,” he added.
Of course, all eyes are on the import matchup between the league’s most prolific resident reinforcements in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Justin Brownlee – dubbed as the ‘Kobe’ and the ‘Jordan’ of the PBA imports.
Hollis-Jefferson had the last laugh in their last PBA meeting, helping TNT to a 4-2 victory over Ginebra on top of edging Brownlee in the Best Import race.
The two stars did meet outside the PBA setting when they both suited up as naturalized players, Brownlee with Gilas and Hollis-Jefferson with Jordan, during the Hangzhou Asian Games finale.
The King’s import got his measure of vengeance when he steered Gilas to its first Asian gold at the expense of the Tropang Giga import and his Jordan national team.
Providing support to Justin Brownlee is a retooled supporting cast featuring Stephen Holt, RJ Abarrientos, joining old reliables Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and Maverick Ahanmisi.
Hollis-Jefferson, on the other hand, will have Rey Nambatac and JP Erram, to try fill up the void left by Mikey Williams who was the Finals MVP of their last meeting, alongside established stars Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams.
