Barangay Ginebra closed in on the finals earlier in the day, then TNT got ahead there.
The Tropang Giga progressed to the title playoffs, gaining a shot at PBA Governors' Cup back-to-back championships with a 113-95 dispatching of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Friday night at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
It will be a TNT-Ginebra title rematch if coach Tim Cone and his Gin Kings can complete a reversal of June Mar Fajardo and his San Miguel Beer teammates.
The Gin Kings took the pivotal 3-2 series lead with a 121-92 blasting of the Beermen.
With their five-game disposal of the Elasto Painters in their side of the semis, the Tropang Giga will enjoy a welcome breather before starting their grind in the finale.
They will be at the comfort of their homes as the Kings take their first shot at the clincher versus the Beermen Sunday back at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game Seven, if necessary, is Wednesday.
Sponsored content: Already feeling the onset of fatigue, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates decided to pour it all to in a closeout mission.
RHJ was again Mr. Do-It-All, coming through with 36 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals, and the TNT locals were there for solid back-up jobs as the Tropang Giga got to deliver the finisher, after earlier wins in Games One, Two and Four.
RR Pogoy fired three treys and ended up with 19 markers, Kim Aurin scored 12 points, all from beyond the arc, while Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram, Kelly Williams and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in eight points each.
After taking the opening quarter at 28-25, the Tropang Giga started the second with a 12-to-nothing roll, and it's all-TNT from there.
"We're ready," Hollis-Jefferson said of their finals stint. "All we can do for tonight is enjoy ourselves. We got a win and we're going to the finals but that's not the end for us, we want to be champions at the end of the day. So we know we got to do, take this rest and lock in, see who wins the other series and start that process."
Sponsored content: Blown away in the middle quarters, 62-45, the Elasto Painters settled for a semis finish for the second straight conference.
But they had a slight improvement from a shutout at the hands of the San Miguel Beermen in the last Philippine Cup semis. (SB)
