TNT head coach Chot Reyes. PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines – TNT head coach Chot Reyes bared the keys in the Tropang Giga's dominant Game 5 win over Barangay Ginebra in the 2024 PBA Governors' Cup Finals.

After the Gin Kings cruised to back-to-back triumphs to even the best-of-seven series, Reyes said they just didn't panic and went back to their main strength—defense.

And now, the Tropang Giga have inched closer to another PBA title, easing past the Gin Kings, 99-72, on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

READ: Ginebra secures 1st win vs TNT in PBA Finals

"I think that the most important thing was for us not to panic and keep our heads around us so that we could make good decisions. I think that's number one," said Reyes.

"Number two was just our focus on our strength all-tournament-long, and that was our defense," he added.

READ: PBA Finals: Brownlee, Ginebra hold off TNT to tie series

They held down the prolific import of the Gin Kings, Justin Brownlee, to only eight points and never gave them a glimpse of the lead.

"And I said, let's go back to what got us here. And that's just playing great defense. Very fortunately, the players responded," he added.

Reyes bared another factor to their win, asserting that starting big men Kelly Williams and Rey Nambatac "gave us a huge lift."

"I thought Kelly [Williams] and Rey [Nambatac] gave us a huge lift, starting the game for us," he said.

TNT has a shot on its franchise's 10th title on Friday, facing the Gin Kings again in Game 6 at the same Quezon City venue.

Reyes, for his part, is also eyeing his 10th championship as head coach.

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