THE TNT Tropang Giga and Magnolia Hotshots are bound to clash in the best-of-seven finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finals at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor.
The two squads earned their tickets to the finals after defeated all-Filipino five-peat champ San Miguel Beer, 97-79 last Sunday while the Hotshots shut the lights off the Meralco Bolts to claim a 93-85 on Friday.
RR Pogoy and Mikey Williams led the mighty TNT charge in the knockout setto, combining for 47 points as the pumped-up Tropang Giga humbled the Beermen and gained the right to play the Magnolia Hotshots.
Over at the other courtside, Ian Sangalang notched game-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds in leading a Hotshots crew that outworked the Bolts for majority of the game to wrap up their best-of-seven semifinals duel 4-2 and advance to the similar race-to-four championship series against TNT.
For TNT coach, it's about the players buying the idea to be excited and not to dread playing June Mar Fajardo and the Beermen in a deciding Game Seven.
"They bought it, and they came out with a great resolve. That's the most important thing that happened," said Reyes.
"We're fortunate to be back in the finals," TNT Coach Chot Reyes said.
Magnolia Coach Chito Victolero meanwhile said that he hopes the grueling experience they just went through against the Bolts would help toughen their team up in the finals. (JTD)