A BATTLE between sister teams will once again be the main game of Tuesday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup encounter when the scene returns to the Philsports Arena.
Here is a preview of the games.
TERRAFIRMA VS. PHOENIX
When: Tuesday, January 7. 5 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Struggling teams square off
This is a battle of teams at the bottom of the standings. The Dyip are still looking for their first win in their eighth game of the conference, while the Fuelmasters have a 1-5 win-loss slate.
Coming off decent showing in previous game
The Dyip actually had a good outing in their 124-112 loss to Rain or Shine last December 22 when they scored 37 points in the first and 33 in the third. They sputtered, however, in the fourth with the Elasto Painters limiting them to only 17 in that period.
The same can be said for the Fuelmasters, who lost by 11 points to Converge, 116-105. Phoenix actually had a strong start by conceding just 15 points in the first quarter, only to give up 33 and 39 in the second and third quarters.
Players to watch
Stanley Pringle will look to bounce back after scoring just three points on 1-for-7 shooting from the field against Rain or Shine.
Top local scorer Jason Perkins will also be out to come back from his 12-point outing against Converge where he only made five of his 11 shots.
MERALCO VS. TNT
When: Tuesday, January 7. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Sister teams from the MVP Group clash
After the all-SMC showdown between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel last Sunday, it’s the turn of Meralco and TNT to vie for supremacy in the MVP group.
TNT got the upper hand last conference when it swept their series in the elimination round in the Governors’ Cup via scores of 93-73 last August 22 and 108-99 last September 12.
Vying to sustain winning form
Meralco snapped a two-game losing skid last Sunday by beating Eastern, 88-83, in a grindout contest to improve to 4-2. TNT won its second straight game last December 19 when it defeated Blackwater, 109-93.
Meralco must maintain defensive effort
The Bolts won against Eastern by limiting the guest team to just 83 points and 37 percent shooting from the field. They hope to do the same as TNT is averaging 106 points and making 46 percent of its field goal attempts during its two wins.
Newsome’s struggles offensively
Chris Newsome has been having off-nights over the past two games, shooting just 6-for-25 from the field, leading to nine points in each of the matches. Newsome will try to get out of that funk against TNT.
Oftana’s shooting
Calvin Oftana’s consistency from the outside has been one of the big reasons why TNT is winning. Oftana is shooting 61 percent from threes over the past three games, and another similar performance against Meralco will once again jumpstart the offense for the Tropang Giga.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
