SAN Miguel and TNT, finalists in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup, lock horns anew on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, this time in the Governors’ Cup.
The double-header's opening salvo will then pit league-leading NLEX against Converge.
Here is a preview.
CONVERGE VS. NLEX
When: Saturday, August 1. 5:15 p.m.
Where: SM Mall of Asia Arena
Last undefeated team standing
NLEX will seek to remain undefeated in its match-up against Converge. The Road Warriors maintained their unbeaten start at 4-0, alongside the Group A lead after their 110-96 victory over San Miguel last Sunday.
Fine games from Berto, Schonny
Schonny Winston and Robert Bolick will try to sustain their performances from the San Miguel match.
Winston had 24 points on 7-of-11 from the field, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Bolick had a near-triple-double of 14 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds against the Beermen.
Arrest losing slide
After three straight wins, Converge has lost its last two games, including a 110-107 defeat against an undermanned TNT squad last Tuesday with Rey Nambatac draining the game-winner. Prior to that, the FiberXers lost to San Miguel, meaning it has yet to win a game in their group against a .500 team.
Converge lost even after changing its import when Jamaal Franklin returned for his second stint with the franchise in lieu of Jalen Hudson. Franklin had 30 points on 7-of-14 from the field in the loss to TNT.
TNT VS. SAN MIGUEL
When: Saturday, August 1. 7:30 p.m.
Where: SM Mall of Asia Arena
Flagship squads duel
San Miguel and TNT, the flagship teams of their respective conglomerates, battle each other, both coming off wins.
The Beermen beat Titan Ultra, 143-105, to take the second spot with a 4-1 record, as the Tropang 5G defeated Converge, 110-107, after Nambatac's buzzer-beater to occupy the fourth position with a 2-2 slate.
Rahlir return
TNT is set to unleash Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, returning after initially suiting up in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup.
Hollis-Jefferson replaced Darius Days after the latter only averaged 16.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, and shot just 29-percent from three-point range in four games.
Undermanned TNT
TNT recently relegated RR Pogoy to the injured/reserve list due to a hyperextended knee from the game against Converge. Jordan Heading, meanwhile, also got injured in the same game, and his shoulder contusion makes him a game-time decision.
The Tropang 5G also remain without Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams, and Jayson Castro, but Poy Erram is now eligible to return after being activated in lieu of Pogoy.
SMB out to beat TNT sans Cjay
San Miguel will likely play against TNT without Cjay Perez, who is dealing with a partial tear in his adductor (groin muscle). Perez could play, albeit in a limited capacity, as he looks to extend his consecutive games played to 280 and tie Dante Gonzalgo at sixth in the all-time list.
With Perez injured, other players such as Jerrick Ahanmisi and Don Trollano must step up again like in previous games. Ahanmisi had his breakout game in a Beerneb uniform when he had 26 points on 10-of-15 from the field against Titan Ultra. Trollano is averaging 18 points over the last two games on 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-9 from threes.
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