RAIN or Shine and TNT go for a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five quarterfinals of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup, with the league bringing the doubleheader in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for the first time in four years.
Here’s a preview of the two games.
Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia
When:Friday, September 27. 5 p.m.
Where: Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex, Laguna
Rain or Shine leads series, 1-0
The Elasto Painters are out to close in on a semifinal spot after beating the Hotshots in Game One, 109-105. Rain or Shine rallied from behind after being down by 10, 94-84, to pull off the win.
READ: Rain or Shine rallies late to outlast Magnolia in Game 1 thriller
Another import switch for Magnolia
With Magnolia practically in a must-win in Game Two, the Hotshots have replaced their import yet again with Jabari Bird in lieu of Rayvonte Rice. Magnolia brings in a fourth import after Rice finished with 16 points but shot 6-of-20 from the field.
READ: Magnolia brings in fourth Govs' Cup import in Jabari Bird
Containing ROS’ fastbreak
If there’s a silver lining that Magnolia can build from Game One, it’s their ability to go toe-to-toe with Rain or Shine’s running game. The Hotshots totalled 25 fastbreak points, better than its 16-point average during the eliminations and more than three against their opponent in Game One.
Lording the boards
Rain or Shine hauled a total of 65 rebounds, with Aaron Fuller collecting 20, with Magnolia only tallying 45 in Game One.
Lemetti struggles
Felix Lemetti’s first PBA playoff game may have resulted in a win, but he would definitely want to make up for his cold shooting in Game One where he only scored five points after going 0-of-4 from the field, and getting all his points from the free throw line. As a team, Rain or Shine actually didn’t shot well from threes, making only five, in pale comparison to their 11 average in the eliminations.
NLEX vs. TNT
When: Friday, September 27. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex, Laguna
TNT wins Game One
The Tropang Giga got off to a good start in the series, beating the Road Warriors, 107-102, in Game One, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scoring 45 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the win.
READ: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's 45 powers TNT comeback against NLEX
Sta. Rosa good to NLEX, TNT
A change of venue could be beneficial for NLEX. The last time the PBA staged a game in Sta. Rosa, Laguna had the Road Warriors winning over Blackwater, 115-109, on September 25, 2019, although no one from that team is still on the current roster, including then-head coach Yeng Guiao.
TNT, though, did play in Sta. Rosa recently but in the EASL where it defeated the Taipei Fubon Braves, 80-69, on December 20, 2023. It was also a game that Hollis-Jefferson would also rather forget as he sustained an injury during the contest that led to him being replaced in the PBA.
Has Calvin Oftana regained his touch?
Calvin Oftana buried three key shots in the end game last Wednesday after starting out by missing his first four shots. Oftana has been struggling in the final stretch of the eliminations and even sustained a busted lip against NorthPort, and Game Two could be the contest where Oftana finally breaks out of the slump.
Little support from locals in Game One
DeQuan Jones had 38 points in Game One against TNT, but his teammates didn’t provide enough production to take the victory. Robert Bolick’s production will be key to the chances of NLEX to win Game Two after going 10 points and shooting 3-of-8 from the field in the series opener.
TNT forces turnovers in Game One
Though it gave up points in the century mark, TNT still had an excellent job on defense by collecting 13 steals that led to 25 NLEX turnovers, and scoring 29 from those errors. NLEX must do a good job of protecting the basketball to give them itself a chance to win in Game Two.
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