PACESETTING TNT has its sights trained on winding up the eliminations as the No. 1 squad that will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
NorthPort’s task is harder — the Batang Pier are fighting for dear life.
What team will achieve its goal will be known when TNT battles NorthPort today as the PBA Governors’ Cup resumes after the All-Star Week at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The curtain-raiser is set at 3 p.m., with the Tropang Giga returning to pro league play after a forgettable campaign in the EASL Champions Week in Japan.
San Miguel Beer and NLEX collide to boost their top four bids at 5:45 p.m.
The Tropang Giga nipped the Beermen 105-103 on Calvin Oftana’s buzzer-beating putback last Feb. 19 that hiked their mark to 8-1.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and Kelly Williams, and Oftana are expected to spearhead TNT’s charge.
Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan is not one to give up on their playoff chances.
“Halos lahat nagsabi na wala na kami following our start. Pero iyong ibang dating nauuna pa sa amin wala na ngayon (eliminated) samantalang kami nandito pa,” Tan said. “So, given na may chance pa kami, dapat sunggaban namin. They have to dig deep within themselves at iyong desire i-translate sa laro.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga players, ‘Kapag gusto ninyong mag-bakasyon na, pakita na lang tayo. Pero kung ayaw ninyo pa, nasa inyo na iyon,’” he added.
Reinforcement Kevin Murphy, Robert Bolick, Joshua Munzon, and Arvin Tolentino will be counted upon by NorthPort, which began its campaign with a 0-6 slate but has won three of its last four, counting a 113-97 triumph over Rain or Shine last March 4.
“Ang management, coaching staff hindi naman nagkukulang sa pagbibigay ng motivation sa team,” Tan said. “So, at this point, nasa players na kung gusto pa nilang maglaro.”
