There’s no doubt Ginebra is gunning for the playoff bonus in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup. But the Gin Kings have to go through rival TNT first.
Barangay Ginebra looks to ride the momentum of its Manila Clasico triumph as it tangles with red-hot TNT Tropang 5G in a pivotal PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup showdown on Sunday, June 8.
Gametime is set at 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Livestream will be available on One Sports' Youtube channel, powered by Pilipinas Live.
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Both squads carry 6-3 records and are locked in a tight battle for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. The matchup also rekindles their rivalry from the last two conference finals, with pride and playoff seeding on the line.
Ginebra is fresh off an 85-81 statement win over Magnolia, where the Gin Kings leaned on their signature poise in the clutch. Japeth Aguilar turned in a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Troy Rosario and Stephen Holt chipped in 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Jamie Malonzo added 11 points, none bigger than his late-game daggers that sealed the win and silenced the Hotshots.
The Gin Kings will now face a TNT side that has won six straight, including a 108-82 drubbing of Blackwater on Friday. The Tropang 5G are uncertain to have newly acquired guard Jordan Heading, who remains day-to-day, according to head coach Chot Reyes.
With both teams playoff-bound but hungry for a postseason edge, expect a fiery encounter between two of the league’s perennial contenders.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]