Kelvin Oftana of TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Philippine Cup game against Ginebra. -PBA Images
Kelvin Oftana knows that playing under coach Tim Cone gives him absolutely no idea what will be expected of him when he leads TNT against Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governors Cup Finals.
“You can’t really study Coach Tim’s mind to see what he wants to implement,” Oftana said Thursday when the Tropang Giga and Gin Kings faced inclement weather caused by Severe Tropical Storm “Christine” in pre-season. Arrived to participate in the finals. Press conference inside the Enderun Complex in McKinley Hill, Taguig City.
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No one can blame fans when they get a Gilas Pilipinas feeling when Ginebra and TNT battle for the season-opening conference championship. After all, many celebrities from both teams have been called to play for the national team.
READ: 2024 PBA Finals Schedule: Barangay Ginebra vs. TNT Tropang Giga
And it starts with both head coaches.
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Current Gilas Pilipinas head coach Cone faces off against his national team predecessor Chot Reyes, who has his sights set on leading TNT to their 10th championship and maintaining their hold on the tournament during the last edition in 2023.
“He’s really been my mentor throughout our time in coaching,” Reyes said of Cone. “But in the end, I’ve developed my style, he’s developed his style and philosophy.”
And then there are the players.
Oftana is one of five TNT players, including veterans Jason Castro and Kelly Williams, RR Pogoy and Poy Arum, who have played for the national team under Cone or Reyes or both in the last decade.
Meanwhile, Ginebra hails from import Justin Brownlee, who has been the Philippines’ naturalized player since winning a historic gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, while Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, RJ Abarrientos and LA Tenorio are other former or current Gilas mainstays.
But will it play any role in the series starting on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City?
Reyes said, “I don’t know if it will make that much of a difference in the series other than that similarity.” “But other than that, I am watching this series as TNT. And I’m sure Tim is watching this series as Ginebra.
“After the series, we can all go back to being glass or pre-glass. But for this series, it is TNT and Ginebra,” he said.
Oftana was thrilled
The final also saw an important matchup between Brownlee and TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, whose presence helped Tropang Giga defeat Ginebra in the 2023 Governors Cup Final – the last time this tournament was played and also the last time both The teams fought for one title.
Adding some layers to the Giles factor is Hollis-Jefferson, who as a natural player for Jordan was on the receiving end of the Philippines’ Asiad gold medal loss.
In addition to facing Kon, Oftana is also thrilled to finally play against his friend and national team roommate Thompson. Both have struggled with injuries in the recent 12 months, but are expected to play key roles for their teams.
“The last time I faced Scotty, he was not fully recovered. But now, I think he is 100 percent ready for this final,” Oftana said.
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TNT’s team officials Ricky Vargas and Ginebra’s Francis Chua also oversaw the gold medal-winning national team at the Asian Games.
