Barangay Ginebra and TNT must both maintain their fitness levels in order to play in the next PBA Governors Cup finals given the length of the upcoming public holiday.

Moreover, that required exercising and practicing throughout Holy Week.

The Kings and Tropang Giga will not be taking a break during this Lenten season, according to Coaches Tim Cone and Jojo Lastimosa, but rather will be getting ready for the top of seven-championship run that will commence on Easter Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

That was certainly a no-brainer, Cone said at the final press conference on Monday at the Novotel Manila. They will find a method to practice on a Good Friday even though it is a holiday.

Lastimosa made a hint about staying focused before Game 1 but avoided outright answering whether the Tropang Giga will take a day or two off to observe Holy Week.

Following the conclusion of their respective semifinal series, both teams are currently taking a lengthy rest.

The Tropang Giga and Kings have not played since their respective best-of-five series sweeps of the Meralco Bolts and San Miguel Beermen on March 29 and April 2, respectively.

In the Governors’ Cup best-of-seven championship series, which begins on April 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Barangay Ginebra coach will compete against rookie TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa.

Lastimosa, 59, won nine of his ten league championships while playing for Cone over the span of more than a decade, including a grand slam in 1996. He was also a member of Alaska’s Big Three with Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins.

Not to add that during his final few seasons with the Aces, Lastimosa served as one of Cone’s deputies.

Cone believes that Lastimosa has one unique advantage over him because of the work they have done over the years, even though he may have the most experience coaching in championship series.

He is familiar with my interests. Cone laughed heartily and added, “He understands what I want to do, but I don’t necessarily know what he wants to do.”

At the same time, he praised the player who won him his first PBA championship for doing a wonderful job at TNT despite taking over the position from Chot Reyes only at the start of the conference.