ON an emotional high, the TNT Tropang Giga seek to ride the wave in a bid to get the closeout job done.
TNT goes for the kill versus embattled San Miguel Beer, hoping to get it done in Game 6 and put the finishing touch in what would be a huge upset of a giant rival and allow the Tropa to keep their reign as the PBA Philippine Cup champs.
Riding the momentum of a two-game romp and pumped up by the bitter bashings to their coach, Kelly Williams and his teammates are determined, more than ever, to get to the top.
An added motivation now for the Tropa is to rally behind coach Chot Reyes, defy the adversity and win it all in the league's premier tourney for a second straight season.
If they get the job done in the 5:45 p.m. Game 6 tussle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Tropa would keep the crown they won over Magnolia last season and repeat the All-Filipino back-to-back feat under the same coach in 2011 and 2012.
Sponsored content: For the record, the team made it a three-peat the next season under coach Norman Black, with Reyes then already in his initial tour of duty with Gilas.
TNT gained a crack at a Game 6 closer following back-to-back victories in Games 4 (100-87) and 5 (102-93) upon the return of Reyes from his Beirut trip with the national team.
But a seasoned, multi-titled coach that he is, Reyes would not celebrate just yet.
"I've always said it - the hardest game to win is the fourth game. We have no illusions about it. We know it's going to be a huge, difficult war so we have to be prepared," said Reyes.
"All we can do is prepare ourselves, control the things we can control and just be ready for Friday," he added.
Sponsored content: Reyes braces for a tougher ride with his injury-hit lineup facing an SMB side determined to get the series to a deciding Game 7.
In Game 5, Poy Erram took painkillers to be able to play through a sprained ankle.
Jayson Castro, who missed nearly the entire second half after twisting his right foot badly, may do the same if he's to rejoin the team in this game.
And Reyes might need the full power of his core group to beat a defiant SMB side.
"Kailangan nila kami talunin ng isa pa; hindi pa tapos yung series," said San Miguel main man June Mar Fajardo. (SB)
