TNT is preparing to utilize a major weapon that gave it a big edge against Barangay Ginebra in its previous title run — long-distance shooting.

The Tropang Giga shot at a 39.6% marksmanship from the three-point arc (67-of-169) and averaged 11 per game, which, coupled with their trademark defense, lifted them past the Gin Kings in the finals of the season-opening PBA Governors’ Cup last November, 4-2.

As the two renew their rivalry and this time fight over the crown in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup starting Friday, the troops of coach Chot Reyes hope their outside sniping clicks anew.

Stats from the Governors’ Cup championship series showed TNT outgunning Ginebra from afar in all six games, including Games 3 and 4 that it lost.

The Tropang Giga were 12-of-30 in their Game 1 victory, 14-of-37 in Game 2, 11-of-25 in Game 5 and 10-of-25 in their title-clincher in Game 6. The Gin Kings, for their part, knocked down a total of 38 in the series, with a single-match high of nine and low of two.

In their last semifinal series against Rain or Shine, Mr. Oftana and Co. fired 43-of-131 from the three-point territory (32.82%). The Gin Kings actually did better in their dispatching of Final Four opponent NorthPort, going 60-of-139 (43.17%) from the distance, and they hope to carry this improved touch over to the grudge rematch with TNT. — Olmin Leyba

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