All eyes on Tropa, Bolts as Phl Cup starts rolling

TNT Tropang Giga bids for a grand slam, Meralco seeks to extend its reign while other teams are locked in for a shot at glory, adding spice and excitement to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 49 Philippine Cup unfurling tomorrow.

Copping their second straight crown of the season after annexing the Commissioner’s Cup title at the expense of Barangay Ginebra in seven grueling games, all eyes are on the Tropang 5G as they try to enter the exclusive list of clubs who have pulled off a hat-trick.

But it will be easier said than done. TNT will be missing the presence of veteran Jayson Castro due to a season ending knee injury he sustained during the semifinals of the previous tournament.

And without three-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson around in an all-Filipino format, head coach Chot Reyes will need to squeeze out more from his locals led by Commissioner’s Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Glenn Khobuntin, Poy Erram and Kelly Williams.

“I don’t think we can escape any talk of it,” the now 11-time champion mentor said. Reyes has acknowledged the Tropang 5G will have to go through the proverbial eye of the needle to join legendary teams Crispa, San Miguel Beer, Alaska and San Mig Coffee in the grand slam circle.

“Of course, 11 other teams are going to do their darn best to stop us,” he said.

The Bolts will surely give the Tropang Giga and the rest of the field a run for their money to prove that their Philippine Cup conquest last year was no fluke.

Meralco claimed its first-ever PBA title at the expense of San Miguel Beer, sealing the finals series in six games.

Although the Bolts fell short of advancing in the finals in the first two conferences of the season, the Luigi Trillo-mentored squad remains a team to beat.

“I think you can see that out there. I think they know whenever they play Meralco, it’s going to be a hard-nosed game. It’s going to be a physical game. It’s not a walk in the park like Meralco 10 years ago. That shows the improvement of our program,” reigning Philippine Cup Finals MVP Chris Newsome said.

Meralco opens its campaign tomorrow against Converge at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. On the other hand, the Commissioner’s Cup top seed and semifinalists NorthPort and Rain or Shine hope to build on their gains from the last conference.

“The team’s confidence is now there,” Batang Pier star Arvin Tolentino said.

NorthPort advanced to the Final Four but was eliminated by the Kings in five games.

“We are starting to believe that we can play at par with big and established teams. That’s a big boost for us going to the Philippine Cup,” the Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference added.

Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao believes his team, composed of young bloods and veterans, is ripe for a championship.

“With the group that we have now, I think we’re right there. I think we can compete. We’ve been in the semifinals three straight times, so every time you get to the semifinals you learn something, you get better,” he said.

“Who knows? Maybe we’ll get a breakthrough in our fourth. Let’s see.”

Then, there’s Ginebra and the two other San Miguel Corporation teams – the Beermen and Magnolia.

The Kings are hoping for a third time’s the charm after back-to-back runners-up finishes.

San Miguel Beer eyes to bounce back from surrendering the Commissioner’s Cup throne after an early elimination in a disastrous campaign, while for the Hotshots, it’s all about getting their confidence back.

NLEX is out to prove that it’s more than just a Robert Bolick team, while Converge wants to continue its serious playoffs run following consecutive quarterfinals appearances.

Phoenix, Blackwater and Terrafirma all have nowhere to go but up after lumbering at the bottom of the standings in the last tournament.