The 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup wrapped up with the TNT Tropang GIGA taking down Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in an epic Game 7. This marked TNT’s 11th title and their fourth championship since 2021.
But let’s talk about something else—Magic Bunots.
This was exactly what TNT had that Ginebra could have used more of throughout the conference. Sure, we all knew the Kings were battling wear and tear, balancing Gilas Pilipinas duties with the PBA grind. But another big factor was Tim Cone’s ultra-tight rotation. In Ginebra’s last seven games, they averaged just 9.6 players per game. Remove Games 1 and 5, and that number drops to 8.6.
The Kings leaned heavily on Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Jamie Malonzo, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, and Maverick Ahanmisi, with Ralph Cu and Jeremiah Gray getting spot minutes. Meanwhile, TNT also had a tight core—Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, Poy Erram, Kelly Williams, Glenn Khobuntin, and Kim Aurin, with Brian Heruela and Jielo Razon making cameo appearances.
The difference? TNT had Henry Galinato as their only notable DNP-CD, while Ginebra had a stack of former starters and key second-stringers glued to the bench—Aljon Mariano, Nard Pinto, Raymond Aguilar, Ben Adamos, and four-time Finals MVP LA Tenorio. Sure, Tenorio is in his 40s and nearing retirement, but just a couple of seasons ago, Cone was still using veterans like Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa to spark the squad. Even Joe Devance got a one-conference deal before injuries ended his run.
Abarrientos, for all his Rookie of the Year potential, made some costly mistakes in the Finals. Meanwhile, Chot Reyes pulled the right strings—rolling with Glenn Khobuntin, whose timely 14 points (especially those clutch bombs in the fourth quarter and OT) helped push TNT over the edge. And while people questioned why Paul Varilla was there defending Justin Brownlee in a crucial moment, the reality is that Brownlee just hit an incredible shot—not that Varilla made a mistake in locking him down.
Cone has always thrived with a tight rotation, even during his Alaska days. But the problem? It makes his team predictable. In overtime, Khobuntin, Williams, Erram, and Nambatac stepped up for TNT. Meanwhile, Ginebra lived and died with Brownlee.
One particular moment stood out in the fourth quarter—Ahanmisi getting an iso play. Odd choice, considering he had the least touches among Cone’s main guys. It showed, too—when he drove to the basket, Nambatac was there for the steal.
And then there’s Tenorio, sitting on the sidelines in a Game 7. It would have been an awesome moment to see The Gineral back for one game, rifling timely bombs to the crowd's delight. Could Cu have given Ginebra the same spark Khobuntin or Aurin did for TNT? Possibly. Before Malonzo's return, Cone used Cu the way he once used Aljon Mariano. And while TNT missed Jayson Castro, the fact that I forgot Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser was there injured proves how shallow TNT's bench was.
Even Kelly Williams' playing time is an awesome sight to see, given that he's at the stage of his career that he's more of a defensive role player than the double-double stud he once was.
At the end of the day, top PBA teams are stacked—these guys were once college stars or key pieces on other squads. So yeah, it’s tough to tell the league’s winningest coach that his strategy was off, but in this case? A couple of Magic Bunots could’ve changed the game’s complexity.