TNT's transformation is quite remarkable. After a 0-3 start that put their grand slam bid in peril, Tropang 5G woke up from the stupor and quickly returned as title contenders with three straight wins.
The team's last win came against sister squad Meralco, the defending champion of the PBA Philippine Cup, 101-84, on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Not only are Tropang 5G back in the title hunt, their grand slam bid is also back on track with their 3-3 slate, while the Bolts fell below the .500 mark (3-4) following the loss.
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San Miguel downed Phoenix, 111-92, in the opening game, improving to 4-2 overall for solo third place. The Beermen lost to the Tropang 5G in their previous outing, 89-84.
The Fuel Masters, the last team to beat TNT, meanwhile, went down to 2-4.
Below are three takeaways from the doubleheader that came on the eve of the midterm elections.
1. TNT GETTING BACK INTO THE GROOVE – After a 0-3 start, TNT is now looking a lot like the team on a grand slam mission after winning all three games in a week’s span. Two of those victories came at the expense of title contenders – San Miguel and Meralco. Coach Chot Reyes credited the improvements on both ends of the floor for TNT’s sudden resurgence, capped by the scoring consistency of Calvin Oftana and the 34-point explosion of Roger Pogoy in the Meralco win. The Tropang 5G now get a well-deserved rest following a brutal week that saw them play three games in the last five playdates. But the test resumes for the telecommunication franchise upon its return on May 21 when it goes up against Rain or Shine.
2.MERALCO SCRAMBLING TO FINISH PH CUP SKED, PREPARE FOR BCL ASIA – So far the Bolts are 1-1 since the remainder of the All-Filipino Cup schedule was revised to pave the way for their campaign in the Basketball Champions League Asia. Both outings against Northport and TNT were closely-fought matches. The team plays its third straight game in six days on May 14 against undefeated league leader Magnolia. In between, Meralco is preparing for the BCL Asia set from June 9-15 while also in the process of looking for possible imports to reinforce the franchise. Coach Luigi Trillo said it’s always an honor for the team to represent the country abroad, but worries about fatigue setting in given the hectic schedule they have in the next four weeks. Main man Chris Newsome will also have the added task of doing Gilas Pilipinas duties by the end of July until August for the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
3. RICCI RIVERO YET TO GET REALLY GOING FOR PHOENIX – It's been almost two years since he signed with the Fuel Masters, but so far it’s been an up-and-down PBA career for the celebrated shooting guard. Against San Miguel, the two-time UAAP champion player suited up for just six minutes and finished with five points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal - a performance that’s a far cry from his career-high 20 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range in a 109-97 stunner against reigning champion Meralco.
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