TNT is gunning for a Grand Slam and Philippine Cup supremacy at the expense of the San Miguel squad that has dominated the All-Filipino conference since 2015.
For the past decade, San Miguel has been the gold standard in the PBA Philippine Cup, winning six of the last nine All-Filipino crowns.
However, TNT is here to challenge that anew as the two teams meet in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
[RELATED STORY: Kelly Williams remains doubtful for TNT in PBA Philippine Cup Finals vs San Miguel]
Game 1 of the best-of-seven Finals begins on Sunday, July 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Livestream will be available on the One Sports Youtube channel, powered by Pilipinas Live.
One Sports delves into the keys that will help the Tropang 5G finally score a Grand Slam.
Keep San Miguel around 80 points
As it has been all-season long, team defense has been TNT’s calling card.
Defense has made a world of difference in the Tropang 5G's first title two conquests, after all.
In this current conference, whenever the Tropang 5G limit their foes to around 80 points, good things follow.
[ALSO READ: Chot Reyes calls TNT’s 2011 Grand Slam miss ‘ancient history,’ eyes PBA Finals win on merit]
But that’s gonna be tough against a team with the Beermen’s firepower which allowed them to average 102.84 points per game.
TNT’s bigs need to step it up a notch
Poy Erram has always said it would take a village to tame San Miguel, especially main man and eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Even with practically one leg owing to a right calf injury, Fajardo was a problem for Ginebra in the semifinals. In fact, he produced 21 points and 19 rebounds in the series-clinching Game 7.
Whether or not TNT admits it, its team defense will have to find ways to contain Fajardo, more so with Kelly Williams joining TNT's injury list.
Key players need to stay healthy
After going all the way in the first two conferences this season, the taxing job begins to take a toll on the Tropang 5G’s bodies.
The season-ending meet has seen guys like the aforementioned Kelly Williams (ankle), Calvin Oftana (ankle) and RR Pogoy (hamstring) deal with injuries. These are on top of Finals MVP's Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac already out of commission.
While it managed to reach the Finals despite losing the said key players, TNT will need all the help it can get to topple San Miguel.
[ALSO READ: San Miguel star Cjay Perez dedicates PBA PH Cup Finals to aspiring hoopers from provinces]