Games today:
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. — San Miguel Beer vs Phoenix
7:30 p.m. — TNT vs Meralco
Sister teams defending champion Meralco and grand slam-seeking TNT face off in a crucial showdown as they try to fuel their playoffs drive in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Getting off the hump following a slowdown, both squads eye to sustain their momentum when they go after each other’s throats at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer and Phoenix battle at 5 p.m. in the curtain-raiser.
After a bad start that saw them drop their first three assignments, the Tropang 5G are making strides, winning consecutive games over the Beermen and a 110-74 blowout of Terrafirma last Friday.
TNT is tied with Phoenix with 2-3 win-loss cards at eight to ninth place in the standings.
“(It’s good to win back-to-back games) because we’re about to play the defending champs. Meralco is the defending all-Filipino champion. We know how hard they play. We know how strong they are in the rebounding department. So, our rebounding is really going to be tested,” Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes said.
The mentor, who steered his squad to ruling the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup this season, has all the reasons to worry about the Bolts.
Meralco ended a three-game slump after a gutsy 105-104 come-from-behind escape over NorthPort on Friday behind the game-winning heroics of Bong Quinto complemented by Chris Newsome and Chris Banchero’s superb offensive outing.
“We have to make sure that we’ll be able to match their inside prowess. We all know the strength of that team, how physical they play. So, like I said, I thought this was a good preparation for this Sunday,” Reyes added.
Bolts mentor Luigi Trillo, on the other hand, is hoping that their stunner over the Batang Pier would spark the repeat-seeking squad’s climb into the upper half of the standings.
“When you win, you regain that confidence. Hopefully, this could be the start of our turnaround. We’re relieved but we know we have more games ahead,” he said.
San Miguel, meanwhile, hopes the weeklong rest has given them enough time to reflect and regroup after an 84-89 loss to TNT.
The Beermen have lost in two of their last three games to slide down to a 3-2 card.
Fuel Masters head coach Jamike Jarin admits they have their hands full against a bounce-back-hunting San Miguel.
“It’s always a hard matchup against because nobody can guard the best basketball player the Philippines has ever produced. That’s a big problem right there,” Jarin said, referring to eight-time season Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.
“And then they’re coming off a loss. We know they’re gonna be prepared. Both of us are coming off a one-week break so they’re going to be fresh. Let’s see.”
Phoenix is coming off a 95-81 victory over TNT last 2 May at the Ynares Center-Montalban.