2025 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT
MANILA, Philippines—There will be no shortage of drama and excitement when Barangay Ginebra Kings and the TNT Tropang Giga write another chapter in their rivarly when the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals begin this Friday.
For the third time in the last five PBA Finals series, the two will be duking it out in a best-of-seven affair with the Gin Kings finally looking to end their Finals drought against the Tropang Giga.
Here’s everything you need to know before the Gin Kings and the Tropang Giga spark another absolute classic to end the import-laden conference.
Ginebra vs TNT in the elimination round
Calvin Oftana goes up against Jamie Malonzo during a game between TNT Tropang Giga and rival Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Ginebra and TNT’s matchup in the elimination round was, by all accounts, a neck-and-neck fight.
The Gin Kings were looking to get revenge after fumbling the Governors’ Cup a few months ago while the Tropang Giga were out to prove that their win over Ginebra in the last conference’s Finals was no fluke.
READ: PBA: TNT shuts down Ginebra behind Calvin Oftana, RHJ
In the end, TNT proved to be the better squad with a 91-86 win to increase their win streak over Ginebra to three, including the last two games of the previous conference’s Finals.
Ginebra’s tormentor in last conference’s Finals remained to be the Gin Kings’ problem in this elimination round loss as Calvin Oftana finished with a 32-point and seven-rebound outing.
BREAK THE STREAK?
Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
In the last two PBA Finals series that included Ginebra and TNT, the Tropang Giga won both in six games.
Back in the 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals, the Tropang Giga relied on Mikey Williams to deliver the goods for the franchise’s first-ever title in the aforementioned conference.
The two historic squads will face off again, in the same conference, a year later.
READ: PBA: Ginebra, Jamie Malonzo itching to get back at TNT in Finals
Since then, a lot has changed on both ends.
The Tropang Giga lost Mikey Williams, arguably the biggest factor of that series for TNT as the Finals MVP.
TNT has also recalled Chot Reyes to be the coach when it was Jojo Lastimosa who managed the Tropang Giga in their six-game series win over Tim Cone and the Gin Kings.
Ginebra, meanwhile, almost completely revamped its roster, losing Christian Standhardinger but bringing in two of the best rising guards in the league today in Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos.
READ: PBA Finals: Ginebra hopes ‘charm’ finally pushes them past TNT
The Gin Kings also didn’t have the services of Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray, who both had major injuries during that one-year time skip.
Now, TNT is looking to defeat Ginebra for a third time while the Gin Kings look to subdue the Tropang Giga for a change.
RHJ, Brownlee battle again
Rondae Hollis Jefferson goes up against Justin Brownlee during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
It’s been seen time and time again but the excitement levels stay the same. Ginebra’s longtime import Justin Brownlee and TNT notable reinforcer Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will battle once more in the Finals stage.
In the international level, Brownlee got the best over RHJ, including that historic Asian Games gold-medal win over Jordan when the former played for Gilas Pilipinas.
READ: PBA Finals: Justin Brownlee vs RHJ Round 3
In the PBA’s stage, though, Brownlee hasn’t got a title over the highly-regarded Kobe Bryant comparison.
Brownlee, who some people hail as the Michael Jordan of the PBA, will be entering this conference’s Finals with a bit more fatigue than usual.
For one, before he fueled Ginebra to a 4-1 semis win over Northport, Brownlee played for Gilas for over two weeks where he once dropped 39 points in a loss before plunging back to PBA action almost immediately after.
Hollis-Jefferson, meanwhile, was all business with TNT, opting not to play for Jordan during the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Now, it’s round three between Brownlee and RHJ in the Finals once more.
Next man up for Tropang Giga
TNT guard Rey Nambatac (6) and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
There’s been an eerie trend for the TNT locals when it comes to the PBA Finals.
In the 2023 Governors’ Cup, Williams won the Finals MVP but soon was unable to play for Tropang Giga due to contract matters.
Last conference, Jayson Castro won Finals MVP but he won’t be able to play this time around due to a torn patellar tendon.
Two Finals MVPs are out and now it’s time for coach Chot Reyes to work his magic on the TNT locals for them to step up.
READ: PBA: Sans Jayson Castro, TNT remains confident vs Ginebra in Finals
Rey Nambatac, who will be holding the floor general post without Castro in the mix, made it clear: it will take more than him to fill the void left by the former best point guard in Asia.
“I don’t necessarily need to fill all the gap that Jayson left behind because that’s really impossible. We need team effort. That’s what we need,” said the sweet-shooting guard after their semis win over Rain or Shine.
Helping Nambatac in the back court will be young guns Kim Aurin and Roger Pogoy with front court forces Kelly Williams, Glenn Khobuntin and Poy Erram.
Ginebra guard Jamie Malonzo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
On the other end, though, the Gin Kings are looking more potent than usual with the returning Malonzo, who sat out for over a year and a half due to a calf injury.
“That one [Governors’ Cup 2023] stuck with me a little bit so hopefully we could make some changes in the next one,” said Malonzo, fresh off their own semis win over the Batang Pier.
“That was the last time I was in the Finals, that was the last time I got to compete for a championship so since then, I’ve been itching to get back.”
The Gin Kings will also be relying on Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos to step up more for the troika of Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and Brownlee, who all played for Gilas, weeks before the Finals.
Another chess match: Tim Cone vs Chot Reyes
Ginebra coach Tim Cone and TNT coach Chot Reyes (foreground) during a PBA Philippine CUp game. –PBA IMAGES
“He’s an outstanding coach. They lost a key player but kept moving forward. They play with such togetherness and such effort on the defensive side. Those were the words coach Tim Cone the moment he reached the PBA Finals for the second straight conference.
He was, of course, referring to Chot Reyes.
Cone had been on the side of Reyes with Gilas Pilipinas but he’s also been opposite of him for the majority of their coaching careers in the PBA.
READ: PBA: Tim Cone ‘hates’ playing against Chot Reyes
Cone gave Reyes his flowers but the latter gave his commendation to the other way before.
When TNT advanced to the Finals, Ginebra was still on queue to face Northport in the semis.
Reyes, though, already knew what they would be up against.
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“I don’t think it’s any secret that we’ll play against Ginebra in the Finals,” said Reyes. “We all know how strong and deep that team is.”
Game 1 between Reyes’ and Cone’s wards will be on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
