TNT made it two in a row against Rain or Shine, but San Miguel bounced back and got even with Barangay Ginebra.
That’s how things went on during the second day of the PBA Governors Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga got another sizzling performance from import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but starting forward Calvin Oftana and backup guard Rey Nambatac also did their share in the 108-91 runaway win that put them up 2-0 against the Elasto Painters in the best-of-seven semis.
READ: TNT leaves Rain or Shine in 0-2 hole after another blowout win
The other semis pairing on the other hand, is evened at 1-1 apiece as the Beermen got an added firepower in Terrence Romeo, who went a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range and finished with 26 points in a grueling 131-125 overtime win over the Kings.
Here’s a quick takeaways in the Game 2 battle before the series shifts to Cavite on Sunday in yet another doubleheader at the Dasmarinas City Arena.
1.ANOTHER SEMIS SWEEP FOR RAIN OR SHINE?
The Elasto Painters have yet to solve the TNT puzzle and found themselves down two games in their Final Four series, less than a week since slamming the door on the Magnolia Hotshots in a seething sudden-death during the first round of the playoffs.
Just a conference ago, Rain or Shine was also swept by San Miguel, 4-0, in the Philippine Cup which put a blot in the franchise’s first semis stint in eight years. Will there be a repeat of the same sweep? Game 3 is certainly a do-or-die for coach Yeng Guiao and his young team.
2.TNT PLAYING WITH DISCIPLINE
The defending champions that they are, the Tropang Giga had been taking care of the ball well in the series that they averaged only 8.5 turnovers in the first two games.
The Elasto Painters meanwhile averaged 19 per outing, including 22 in the series opener. TNT used such advantage to outscore Rain or Shine in fastbreak points so far, 31-16. It remains to be seen though, if TNT could keep the same pace for the rest of the series.
3.BARANGAY GINEBRA PLAYING SMALL BALL
With Christian Standhardinger no longer with the team and Jamie Malonzo and Isaac Go still recovering from their respective injuries, Japeth Aguilar serves as the lone interior threat of the Kings.
And so coach Tim Cone would try to play small ball from time to time just like what he did in Game 2. At one point, he had Justin Brownlee play in the middle and had guards Stephen Holt, Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, and LA Tenorio playing all at the same time, or the combination of Aguilar, Thompson, Holt, Abarrientos, and Maverick Ahanmisi playing together on the court.
4.BANGED UP FAJARDO CONTINUES TO CHURN OUT MONSTER NUMBERS
The eight time MVP admitted fatigue has begun to set in following the Beermen’s grueling quarterfinals series against Converge, and an expected drawn-out battle with the Kings in this semis.
Still, the 34-year-old Cebuano remains a towering presence for his team. In the Game 2 win against the Kings, Fajardo delivered 23 points and 21 rebounds, about a week since his memorable 40-24 numbers in San Miguel’s 109-105 grind out win over Converge in their do-or-die encounter. In his last three outings in the last six days, Fajardo averaged a staggering 26.3 points and 20.3 rebounds.
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