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The rivalry that started in the Season 47 PBA Governors’ Cup (GC) also spread to the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (RHJ) got the better of the first gold clash with Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee as he led Tropang Giga to the GC crown with a 4-2 decision in the finals in April 2023.
Six months later in China, Mr. Brownlee, who serves as a player for Gilas Pilipinas, also defeated RHJ, his Jordan counterpart, in the gold medal game, 70-60, to break a 61-year drought. Filipino soccer players.
As they return to grudge matches with their respective PBA clubs in the best-of-seven Governors’ Cup finals, expect fireworks and high-quality football.
“We have recent history, you know, Asian Games, PBA Finals. “It’s always an honor to play with a guy like him who is so decorated in his professional career, playing (in the NBA) and having a great career overseas,” said Mr. Brownlee after he and the Gin Kings trailed RHJ and the Tropang Giga in the Last Dance with a 102-99 Game 6 escape on San Miguel Beer Sunday.
“For me, I think he should be in the NBA, he’s really good. So it’s going to be a good game, good for the fans, I hope it’s fun and hopefully we can do whatever we have to do to go out and win the title,” he added.
Payback will also be on the agenda for JB and Ginebra pals Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos as they try to give RHJ and his TNT alongside RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac the dose of their medicine once removed from the throne this time.
“It will be very difficult. “Yes, we want, I guess you could say, to try to avenge our final (loss) last year,” said Mr. Brownlee.
“But we’re just looking to take one step at a time without trying to move forward and make it a hard-fought series.”
The characters, whose coaches Tim Cone and Chot Reyes are good friends, will spend the next few days charging and drawing their schemes before taking the court on Sunday for Game 1 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Tropang Giga became the first in the finals after shutting out its semi-final opponent Rain or Shine in Game 5, 113-95, last Friday. – Olmin Leyba