By the Numbers: 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Finals

The 2023 Philippine Basketball Association Finals are underway. As Barangay Ginebra San Miguel took Game 1 in convincing fashion over TNT Tropang Giga, there are plenty of facts and figures in this competition to see if TNT can come back and make this a series. Here are some stats you need to know ahead of the next few games.

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(1) TNT Tropang Giga:

-         TNT Tropang Giga were first in the Elimination Round, finishing with a 10-1 record.

-         TNT has led the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup in scoring this tournament, scoring 114.4 points per game this season.

-         TNT has appeared in 21 PBA Finals, winning eight championships in the PBA, last winning the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup

-         However, TNT has never won the PBA Governors’ Cup in their 23-year history.

-         TNT has only appeared in one PBA Governors’ Cup Final since the tournament’s inauguration in 1993, losing to Petron Blaze Boosters in seven games in 2011.

-         Former NBA veteran, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is leading the team in points and rebounds, averaging 31 points and 12 rebounds in five games played.

-         TNT veteran Kelly Williams remains out with a calf injury suffered in the quarterfinal win against Phoenix Super LPG.

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(3) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel:

-         Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were third in the Elimination Round, finishing with an 8-3 record.

-         Although Ginebra was fifth in scoring this tournament (110.2 points per game), they had been the most efficient team on offense, going 50% from the field, 57% from 2-point and 38% from 3-point.

-         Ginebra are the second-most successful club in PBA history (behind San Miguel Beermen), having appeared in 29 PBA Finals, winning 15 championships.

-         Ginebra has won all four of their appearances in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, having won four of the last five seasons.

-         Import Justin Brownlee leads the team in scoring, averaging 27.3 ppg in 11 games this season.

-         Japeth Aguilar remains out with an MCL injury suffered in conference play against NLEX Road Warriors back in February.

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Coach Rivalry:

-         Ginebra Head Coach Tim Cone is looking for his 26^th PBA title.

-         TNT Jojo Lastimosa is looking for his first title as head coach.

-         Cone used to coach Lastimosa when the two were part of the Alaska Aces, winning nine championships together including the grand slam in 1996.

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While TNT has had the better record entering the Finals, Ginebra remains the heavy favorites. Can TNT turn the cards, or will Ginebra win their fifth PBA Governors’ Cup in seven years?

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