THE period of uncertainty is not yet over for teams in the PBA Governors Cup.
After being mothballed for more than a month, the season-ending tourney resumes today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a Meralco-NLEX tiff, followed by the matchup pitting unbeaten leader Magnolia against TNT.
Playing again is one thing and getting those much-needed wins to stay on the route bound for the playoffs is another, however.
Today’s combatants would sure try.
Just before the league was put on hold due to a drastic surge in COVID cases, TNT eked out a 95-92 decision over Rain or Shine last Dec. 26 to improve its record to an even 2-2.
Today’s match against the 3-0 Hotshots would actually kick off a hectic week for the Tropang Giga before some of them beef up the Gilas Pilipinas squad seeing action in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers set Feb. 24-28 also at the Big Dome.
TNT next takes on Phoenix Super LPG on Sunday, San Miguel Beer Wednesday, and Ginebra two days later.
Magnolia coach Chito Victolero knows TNT would surely go all-out to try and get as many wins as it could from such a tough sked, but believes the Hotshots are up to the task of foiling that bid.
As excited for the resumption but also bracing for a tough grind are NLEX and Meralco.
“It is like opening day all over again. The excitement and anticipation is fever-pitch,” noted Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao, adding Meralco should be a tough nut to crack.
Meralco has gotten off to the fine start coach Norman Black wanted by winning its first two games, capped by an 83-80 thriller over TNT last Dec. 22.
NLEX, on the other hand, saw its franchise record-tying 4-0 start cut short by a shock 93-102 loss to Phoenix on Christmas Day.
Guiao is foremost among those aching to find out whether the Road Warriors have sufficiently recovered enough from that defeat, considering they expect the grind to get more rugged with each game.
“We’re looking forward to tough battles, starting with Meralco,” said Guiao. “Their import will be a tough match-up as well as their rotation of big guards.”
“Playing against a Yeng Guiao-coached team is always tough because you know they will play hard,” countered Black.
“It’s important that we slow down their import, and we close out well versus their 3-point shooters,” added Black. “Once again we will have to rely on our defense to get a win because NLEX is a high scoring team.”
Meralco may have to do it without new acquisition Chris Banchero. Black revealed the unrestricted free agent guard who opted out of Phoenix only eight days ago has not practiced with the team yet and remains questionable for the game due to health and safety protocols.
Still, the Bolts’ core that also includes Chris Newsome, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Bong Quinto, Mac Belo, Cliff Hodge, Anjo Caram, Reynel Hugnatan and Alvin Pasaol should be enough to get the job done.
NLEX also boasts a new player in Matt Nieto, activated in lieu of the injured Mike Miranda.
But Guiao is still expected to rely mostly only on import KJ McDaniels but also Kevin Alas, JR Quinahan, Raoul Soyud, Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad, and rookie revelation Calvin Oftana.
