TNT eyes clincher vs Magnolia as it looks to end 6-year title drought

The TNT Tropang Giga have nothing in mind heading into Game 5 of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals on Friday night but to finish their business against the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots.

TNT already holds a 3-1 series edge and a win tonight would not only end the franchise's six-year title drought but would also put a stop to the San Miguel Corporation's All-Filipino Conference dominance in the past seven years.

And in order to complete the job, according to head coach Chot Reyes, TNT has to think simple and straight.

"For us it's very simple, just go back to what we have been doing the whole year and that is to get better," the multi-titled Reyes said.

"We can't think of too many things, we just have to keep our focus laser-like. We just have to do whatever it takes and we know the final one is the most difficult one."

TNT last won the All-Filipino title in 2013, when it swept Rain or Shine in four games in the finals and when former star players like Ranidel De Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Harvey Carey, and Ali Peek were still with the team.

Since that championship, teams from rival conglomerate SMC had ruled the conference.

San Mig Super Coffee (now Magnolia) won the 2013-2014 Philippine Cup as part of its historic Grand Slam season. Then, from 2015 until 2019, its sister team San Miguel Beermen won the title for five straight years.

SMC's flagship team, Barangay Ginebra, clinched the 2020 Philippine Cup in a bubble last year against, incidentally, TNT.

A win tonight will also quench a six-year title drought for the Tropang Giga since copping the 2015 Commissioner's Cup title against Rain or Shine.

But although they boast an immense advantage over the Hotshots, Reyes said they will not sit on their laurels as the opposing team can still turn the series around.

"We need to find a way to be better on Friday than we were today. Better execution and better energy and we'll see what happens," said Reyes ahead of Game 5 set at 6 p.m.

—JMB, GMA News