Tropa seek closeout in all-out title drive

MANILA, Philippines — With one hand on the coveted crown jewel, TNT sets out to mop up the Magnolia resistance and complete its all-out drive back to PBA glory.

Holding a commanding 3-1 lead, the Tropang Giga are poised to jump on the opportunity to seal their coronation as the new kings of the PBA Philippine Cup tonight in Bacolor, Pampanga.

TNT hasn’t been to the top since its triumph in the import-flavored Commissioner’s Cup back in 2015. And the current batch, a dominant force all tournament long, knows what it takes to get there.

“It’s very simple: Just go back to what we’ve been doing the whole year and that’s to get better,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said ahead of the 6 p.m. Game 5 at the Don Honorio Ventura State U Gym.

“We need to find a way to be better than we were (last Wednesday). Better effort, better execution, better energy and we’ll see what happens.”

The Tropang Giga reached the hill in the race-to-four contest with a 106-89 conquest of the Hotshots two nights ago.

Reyes, who returned to the TNT think tank last February after a nine-year break from PBA coaching, is on course to win his and the franchise’s first All-Filipino title since 2012.

“To be very honest, I’m not thinking about it,” Reyes, who won four titles with TNT from 2008-2012, said of playing for the championship again after nine years.

“My entire focus is just the next game. In fact, it’s not even the next game – it’s the first six minutes of the first quarter. That’s how laser-like our focus has to be and we can’t think of anything else. We can’t get ahead of ourselves and we must be able to stay present and hopefully get the job done.”

TNT is carrying out the mission with a hobbling crew. Kelly Williams is nursing a back injury, Poy Erram a fractured cheekbone, Troy Rosario a dislocated finger, and Jayson Castro an ankle issue.

“It’s the finals and the teams just have to find ways to play through injuries. We’ve been doing it so we just need to do whatever it takes. We know the final one – the closeout – is the most difficult one,” said Reyes.

Proud Magnolia is expected to do everything in its powers to stay alive and extend the series to a sixth game.

The Hotshots have repeatedly expressed their desire to win the Philippine Cup especially with their two previous attempts foiled by San Miguel Beer in 2018 and 2019.