November 8, Friday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 7:30pm – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs TNT Tropang Giga
TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Poy Erram was heading back to the TNT dugout following a lopsided Game 5 victory that put the Tropang Giga one step away from repeating as champions of the PBA Governors’ Cup when a Barangay Ginebra fan couldn’t help but shout at the veteran center.
“Iyakin (crybaby)!” the fan hollered at Erram, who just flashed a wide grin while giving high fives to his teammates to savor the Tropang Giga’s 99-72 rout of the Gin Kings on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Our goal was to be aggressive,” said Erram, labeled as such after painful playoff defeats in the past. “We also kept our focus on ourselves, not on the referees or the crowd.”
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings coach TIm Cone during Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—With momentum on Ginebra’s side after trying the series, coach Tim Cone knows what went wrong for his the Gin Kings in Game 5 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
After two rousing victories, the Gin Kings saw themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided loss as Tropang Giga took a commanding 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven affair.
“It doesn’t even matter that we lost by thirty points, the bottom line is we lost,” said a distraught Cone after their 99-72 loss at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana during the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game 5 against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Coming off a frustrating loss in Game 4 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, TNT’s Calvin Oftana bounced back big to push the Tropang Giga on the cusp of back-to-back titles.
Although not scoring more after finishing with 26 in the previous game—Oftana was more efficient on Wednesday night in Game 5, which he credits to his winning instinct.
“Masama lang ata pakiramdam ko kaya gano’n nangyari [last game],” said Oftana in jest after their 99-72 win over Ginebra. (I think I just felt under the weather last game.)
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