GAMES TODAY
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – TNT vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs. NorthPort
TNT can smell blood after a pivotal win the last time out gave it a commanding 3-1 lead.
Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes is not one to let a golden opportunity slip away against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
“We talked about it, and we know that it’s going to be a very difficult series for us,” Reyes said. “But like I said, we’re very grateful to be in this position. We’re grateful that we get to do this.
“We chose this. Pinili naming pumasok sa semis and to compete. This is part of the deal,” he added.
Whether it can get the job done will be known when TNT goes for the jugular against Rain or Shine today in Game 5 of their best-of-7 semifinals series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is set at 5 p.m. before Ginebra tries to atone for a sorry loss in the fourth match when it meets NorthPort in the nightcap at 7:30.
The Tropang Giga hammered a 93-85 victory in the fourth tiff last Wednesday night to move within a win of a stint in the Big Dance of the mid-season tilt.
Two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, and Kelly Williams are expected to lead TNT’s charge.
Fighting for their lives, Painters’ tactician Yeng Guiao is unfazed by the apparent Mission Impossible—overcome the imposing series deficit.
“Hindi pa naman tapos. We’ll watch films, we’ll do walk throughs, we’ll see what adjustments can still be made,” Guiao said. “Hindi pa tapos ito. Definitely, hindi pa tapos ito.”
Rain or Shine will pin its hopes on reinforcement Deon Thompson, Adrian Nocum, Caelan Tiongson, Andrei Caracut, Anton Asistio, and Keith Datu.
Nocum, the Painters’ rising star, was held to a measly four-point outing in Game 4. Doing it anew augurs well for the Tropang Giga.
“There’s no secret about how well he’s been playing the past three games so we really focused and made it a point to defend him,” Reyes said, referring to Nocum. “Like I said, Thompson will get his points, but we should be able to control the others.”
The Batang Pier gained a lifeline after scoring a 108-103 decision over the Kings in Game 4 also last Wednesday night.
They simply refused to sink, according to NorthPort ace forward Arvin Tolentino.
“Kung ikukumpara mo, alam mo iyong parang nasa ilalim ka ng tubig tapos hindi ka makahinga? So iyon, naka-angat kami, so nakakahinga na ulit,” he said. “Iyong kompiyansa nakabalik na ulit. Iyong belief namin sa sarili, sa team, balik na ulit and three more, I guess.”
Tolentino will combine with import Kadeem Jack, Joshua Munzon, William Navarro, Paolo Taha, and Evan Nelle anew.
Ginebra will rely on star reinforcement Justin Brownlee, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, and Japeth Aguilar.
The duels today should determine if there will be a squad—or squads—going on a vacation amid the sizzling summer heat or the showdowns will be extended until Sunday in Game 6, at least.
