STAYING on track of their respective goals is the common goal of TNT and Barangay Ginebra when they clash anew Saturday in the deciding match of their PBA Governors Cup duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Should the Tropang Giga prevail, they not only advance to the semifinals but also keep alive their target of completing a sweep of the season's two conferences.
But if the Gin Kings manage to make it two in a row over the last Philippine Cup champion, then they fan their own hopes of retaining the crown they won in the tourney's last edition in 2019.
Sixth-seeded Ginebra neutralized third-ranked TNT's twice-to- beat advantage and forced the rubber match following a 104-92 victory last Wednesday.
Despite the win, his Gin Kings' first over TNT since the deciding Game 5 of their 2020 Philippine Cup title duel, coach Tim Cone insisted his side remains the underdog.
"They had the overwhelmingly big odds coming into this series, and now we've kind of halved those odds. They're still the favorites," said Cone following the win.
"The good news is, we have a couple of days to recover. Bad news is, they have a couple days to look at the video and go over and see what adjustments we made and then make their own adjustments," added Cone.
"So, that's our agenda at this point, trying to figure out a way to get that second one, trying to figure out a way to follow up this game and that's what we're gonna try to prepare for in the next two days."
TNT is sure to have done just what Cone expects.
Last Wednesday Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with a game-high 38 points on top of 12 rebounds while Japeth Aguilar notched 21 and seven. It is workhorse Scottie Thompson who would be mostly on the crosshairs of the Tropa, though.
"I thought Brownlee had a great game, but Scottie was the difference-maker," said Tropa coach Chot Reyes.
"Not only his 23 points but 15 rebounds and eight assists, I thought he made the big plays," added Reyes. "We need someone to contain and stop Scottie."
