TNT, Ginebra eye clincher

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion TNT and Barangay Ginebra are on the prowl for a title rematch in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.

But their respective semifinal opponents are hell-bent on spoiling the grand plans of the two old rivals.

Filled with motivation, the Final Four protagonists go to war in Game 6 today at Ynares Center-Antipolo.

The Tropang 5G shoot for the clincher against Meralco at 7:30 p.m. with a victory sending them to their fifth straight finals appearance.

The Gin Kings seek the same against Rain or Shine at 5:15 p.m., ready to pounce on the opportunity to make the Last Dance for the first time since their runner-up finish behind TNT in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.

If both are successful, Ginebra and TNT will clash for gold for the fourth time in the last eight conferences.

But if the Bolts and the Elasto Painters force their way, they would set the stage for a Game 7 rubbermatch on Wednesday.

It’s the best situation a team can be at this point but Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone can’t rest easy.

“We’ve been in this situation before: We led 3-2 and then got beat (in seven),” said Cone, referring to last season’s Commissioner’s Cup finals, where they lost to TNT, and the Season 48 Philippine Cup semis, where they bowed to eventual champion Meralco.

“It’s too easy to get euphoric with the 3-2 lead. We’re not. A lot of things went our way tonight (111-104 Game 5 win), which is great, we’re fortunate, but we have to move on,” he added.

For TNT, the squad’s adaptability comes in handy as it creates and strengthens connection with replacement import Chris McCullough after previously bonding with Bol Manute Bol.

“We knew there was going to be a period of adjustment,” said TNT mentor Chot Reyes, whose crew deployed McCullough with only two practice sessions before their 90-101 Game 4 loss Wednesday.

Come Friday, as McCullough promised, his partnership with TNT’s locals started to look “scary” as they hammered a 103-95 win that put them one away from the finale.

“We had a lot of positive things from our (Game 4) loss. We said if we just took care of the ball a little better, we could still have pulled out the win,” he said.