MANILA, Philippines — Tim Cone said he’s the least bit surprised when TNT made it back to the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup finals following the Tropang 5G’s 4-2 semifinal series win against the Meralco Bolts on Sunday.
The American mentor said even though TNT entered the playoffs as the eighth seed, it was just a matter of time before the team coached by Chot Reyes could gather steam.
And the Tropang 5G did just that, demolishing the the top seeded NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals followef by the Bolts in the semis.
“The fact that they (Tropang 5G) are a champion team and been in the Finals four consecutive times before now, it doesn’t surprise me at all that they are here,” Cone told mediamen during Monday’s pre-Finals press conference at the Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City.
Cone believes the Tropang 5G are built for adversity, as evidenced by how they were able to overcome the loss of super import Bol Bol to injury in the semis series, and the eventual integration of comebacking Chris McCullough as the South Sudanese big man’s replacement.
“They really started to hit their stride, and even though Bol Bol went down with the injury, they got a guy who knows how to win in this league. He’s familiar with the league’s,” said the all-time PBA winningest coach.
“Looks to me like he’s the right fit,” Cone said, referring to McCullough, who led San Miguel to the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup title, which ironically beat TNT. For McCullough, the sweet-shooting American is expecting a tough title series, knowing Ginebra is locked and loaded in its quest to end its three straight bridesmaids dating back to the 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals.
