TNT seeks payback vs NLEX
RAHLIR Hollis-Jefferson and the TNT Tropang 5G aim to get back at Anthony Semerad and the NLEX Road Warriors when they collide on Tuesday in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.
Photograph courtesy of PBA
Text size
RAHLIR Hollis-Jefferson and the TNT Tropang 5G aim to get back at Anthony Semerad and the NLEX Road Warriors when they collide on Tuesday in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup.
Photograph courtesy of PBA
Games today:
(Ynares Center Antipolo)
5:15 p.m. — Converge vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. — NLEX vs TNT
After opening the second round with a statement win, defending champion TNT sets its sights on NLEX for payback and to stay on the right track for a quarterfinals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup today at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. following the debut of new Converge import Cameron Clark against a pumped-up Terrafirma at 5:15 p.m.
The Tropang 5G demolished Titan Ultra, 114-80, last Saturday as RR Pogoy and Jordan Heading returned from their injuries.
TNT’s win improved its Group A record to 4-3 in third sport, behind standings leaders NLEX (6-1) and San Miguel Beer (6-2).
“We have to put this win behind us. Get our bodies ready for a good practice so that we can be competitive against NLEX,” Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes said.
Heading, who suffered a dislocated shoulder that forced him to miss a couple of games, finished with 23 points to lead the team the last time out.
Pogoy is slowly getting back to his old form while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Poy Erram have already gotten their rhythm to contribute to the cause upon their return.
Only veterans Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana and Kelly Williams have yet to see service.
“Well, obviously it makes me very happy. It makes the job easier. Just Easier, but it’s by no means an easy situation because you saw all of our opponents here in our group. They’re all tough teams,” Reyes said.
TNT absorbed an 83-88 loss to the Road Warriors in the first round after playing sans Heading, Pogoy, Erram and Henry Galinato.
“So, having a full complement helps a lot in our depth. At least, I think in our game, when we lost against Terrafirma in overtime and even in our last game against NLEX, we really ran out of gas in the end. Hopefully, with a full roster, we can finish games better.”
On the other hand, the Road Warriors of first-year coach Jimmy Alapag will face a test of character as they try to rebound from a setback that snapped their once-unbeaten six-game winning run.
NLEX suffered a shocking 109-114 loss to the Dyip last Friday.
Meanwhile, the FiberXers are pinning their hopes on Clark to turn their fortunes around after losing four straight, leaving them with a 3-4 record tied with Terrafirma.
Converge is hoping Clark would help power the team for the rest of the 12-game eliminations and enable to grab a quarterfinals seat allotted to the top four from the group.
Clark, who has previously suited up for NLEX and San Miguel Beer, replaces Jamaal Franklin following an ineffective outing in their last three games. Franklin himself was a replacement for original import Jalen Hudson.
For their part, the Dyip are eyeing a follow-up to their upset of NLEX while avenging their narrow 103-105 loss to Converge last 15 July.
