Chua insists Gin Kings are underdogs

BARANGAY Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua said the Gin Kings enter the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals as the underdogs when they clash with the Rondae Hollis-Jefferson-led TNT Tropang Giga.

Chua recognized that TNT star Jayson Castro will not be playing due to a season-ending injured knee he sustained in the semifinals, but he said the vast experience of the Tropang Giga will come in handy when the best-of-seven title series begins on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

"First of all, they're not underdogs," Chua said, referring to the Tropang Giga. "I think, experience wise, they have more experience than us. They have veterans in the team."

The three-time PBA Executive of the Year noted that aside from its do-it-all import, TNT can also lean on Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy and Poy Erram for of-fense.

However, TNT team governor and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas insisted that the Tropang Giga will be at a disadvantage in the championship series because Ginebra now enjoys a full complement of its roster.

"If you take a look at it, we won some games against them but today the Ginebra team is different. And it will be a different team in the finals. But hav-ing said that we will also be a different team in the finals," Vargas said.

Vargas took note of the fact that Ginebra bolstered its squad with the return of wingman Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray from injuries, while Troy Ro-sario, who spent the first seven years of his PBA career with TNT, is now a Gin King as well.

"Definitely, we're coming into this conference as underdogs. Man for man, no Jayson, improved chemistry of Ginebra. It's actually a new team and it will be a big challenge we will face," he said.

Nonetheless, the amiable PBA chairman said he expects both squads to come out with their best and give the fans a series worth watching.

"They will do their best in the finals, we will also do our best in the finals. And we owe it not only to people who watch the finals and probably because of that, this may be the best finals that will ever happen in the PBA," he added.