Facing Ginebra in Finals more difficult – Chot

(UPDATE) CHOT Reyes had no doubt that TNT will be facing a much tougher Finals opponent in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

In fact, the outspoken TNT mentor already declared that his team will be facing Ginebra in the best-of-seven title series, just moments before the Gin Kings face the NorthPort Batang Pier in Game 5 on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"I don't think it's any secret: we are going to play Ginebra in the finals," said Reyes, whose team ousted Rain or Shine (ROS), 97-92, in their own semifinal series to advance to the Finals.

And as if fulfilling the script, Ginebra — behind its solid firepower — overwhelmed NorthPort, 126-99, in Game 5, two hours after TNT's win against ROS to arrange the two celebrated PBA squads' Finals rematch.

This will mark the second straight Finals meeting for both squads since TNT beat Ginebra, 4-2, in their Governors' Cup title se-ries last November.

But while the Tropang Giga subdued the Gin Kings to successfully defend their Governors' Cup crown, Reyes expects a "deep" Ginebra team this time.

"We all know how strong and how deep that [Ginebra] team is. It's good preparation for us. But Ginebra is a very different team as Rain or Shine," shared Reyes, who'll be facing his former mentor in Tim Cone once more in the Finals.

Ginebra's depth, the TNT coach said, is due to the return of wingman Jamie Malonzo and guard Jeremiah Gray from their re-spective injuries, while veteran forward Troy Rosario further boosts an already stacked-up squad since joining the team via free agency.

"Like I said, if this series [against Rain or Shine] was difficult, the next one is going to be maybe 10 times even more difficult. So we need to rest, we need to find ways to make sure that we're able to come out and play our best," explained the former Gilas coach.

Rosario will be facing TNT, his former team for the first time in the Finals.

Reyes added that the absence of veteran guard Jayson Castro, who is out for the remainder of the season due to a full patellar tendon tear on his right knee, will make their Finals rematch versus Ginebra even more challenging.

"We are one man down, and they have three new players essentially from the last time we played them in the Finals. It will be a huge challenge," he added.

No wonder, this early, Reyes declared that the only way the Tropang Giga can beat a locked and loaded Gin Kings is by playing their absolute best in the title series, set to start this Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

"That's our only way to compete. If we play our best, we have a chance. It's not sure, but at least we have a chance. But if we do not play at our best, we have no chance against that kind of talent, against that team," Reyes said.