October 30, Wednesday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 7:30pm – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs TNT Tropang Giga
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (left) and the Tropang Giga had a hand in the poor shooting of Barangay Ginebra in Game 1 of the PBA Finals. —PBA IMAGES
It’s a credit to how Barangay Ginebra has turned the three-point shot into a weapon that TNT coach Chot Reyes warned his team how a bad shooting night by the Gin Kings is the exception and not the rule.
“They’re an outside shooting team. So they really rely a lot on their three-point shooting,” Reyes said. “There are days they’re going to be off, but that’s not going to be every day and that’s why I told [the players] we have to be prepared for the next game.”
Barangay Ginebra’s 2-for-21 shooting from three-point land in Game 1 was the worst in a series finale in over a decade. The last time a club fared miserably from beyond the arc was San Mig Coffee during the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, during a time when hot shooting from the outside would often be dismissed as a rarity.
Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos (4) defends TNT guard Jayson Castro in Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Ginebra rookie RJ Abarrientos found himself swimming with the sharks in his first PBA Finals experience.
The fast-rising Abarrientos went head-to-head with TNT great Jayson Castro, who took the young guard to school.
“Kuya Jayson showed who Jayson Castro is, who I still idolize right now,” said Abarrientos after the Gin Kings’ 104-88 Game 1 loss on Sunday night at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Rondae Hollis-Jefferson never runs out of reasons to keep going and stay locked in until the goal is met.
Hollis-Jefferson said he has plenty of motivation as he tries to lead TNT to back-to-back championships in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
“I’m motivated [even] before the introductions,” said the former NBA veteran in an interview with Inquirer Sports on Sunday night.
“I’m motivated for our teammates, the people who don’t make that much money, for the people who helped me every day.”
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