Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

5 p.m. — Terrafirma vs TNT

7:30 p.m. — Meralco vs NorthPort

Could this be the start of TNT’s turnaround?

The grand slam-seeking Tropang 5G try to take another step toward the right direction in a clash against languishing Terrafirma in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Game time is set at 5 p.m., and TNT is looking to follow up on its 89-84 win over San Miguel Beer last Sunday.

The Tropang 5G had a wobbly start following their Commissioner’s Cup conquest, dropping their first three games before finally ending a slump.

TNT coach Chot Reyes sees their game against the Dyip as a gauge of whether they truly got over the hump.

“Certainly, it’s a step in the right direction, but our effort in the next few games is going to tell if we’ve started to turn that corner,” Reyes said.

“Like I’ve said, this is just the first step. We’re happy but we cannot be content with this.”

Unlike in their first three games, the Tropang 5G displayed grit and focus in downing the Beermen.

“We were talking about why we can’t do this, why we can’t do that in our first three games. Until we realized that we can’t go back to the old TNT game because this is a vastly different team,” Reyes said.

But TNT cannot let its guards down despite facing a team that has lost four consecutive games after a promising start.

Terrafirma, which is coming off a 94-127 beating at the hands of Magnolia last Sunday, is at the cellar tied with Blackwater.

Still, TNT is having a hard time beating Terrafirma this season. In fact, the Dyip beat Tropang Giga in the Governors’ Cup on 19 September, 84-72, and in the Commissioner’s Cup on 22 January, 117-108.

Those upsets of a powerhouse TNT squad led by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson were Terrafirma’s only wins this season until it posted a 95-87 win over Phoenix in its Philippine Cup debut on 4 April.

“Suki kami,” Reyes said, adding that the Dyip are dangerous foes due to their nothing-to-lose mentality.

“We have three straight games of focused practice to get ready for the game.”

Meanwhile, defending champion Meralco and NorthPort collide, with both teams working on ending their alarming three-game skids.

The Bolts lost power after winning back-to-back to open their repeat bid, absorbing beatdowns from San Miguel, Phoenix and Rain or Shine by an average of 12 points.

Meralco holds a 2-3 mark tied with the Fuel Masters while the Batang Pier carry a 1-3 slate.