AFTER a contentious Game Three that saw a blown call, coaches' rants, and a referee being suspended, Rain or Shine and Magnolia go back to the court for Game Four with the Elasto Painters going for a place in the semifinals.
An equally interesting match-up is the tussle between TNT and NLEX, where the Tropang Giga will have the chance to advance to the next phase of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.
Here’s a preview of the Game 4s, what to expect, and what the teams need to do to win.
Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia
When: Tuesday, October 1. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
ROS one win away from semis
The Elasto Painters will shoot for a semifinal berth in the Governors’ Cup on Tuesday following their 111-106 overtime win over the Hotshots last Sunday. Aaron Fuller played through a torn cornea and had 29 points and 11 rebounds in Game Three.
Out to bounce back after controversial Game 3
Magnolia will look to tie the series at 2-2 after a controversial end to Game Three. In case you missed it, Magnolia was trailing by two points when Zav Lucero’s lay-up in the dying seconds of overtime was rejected by Jhonard Clarito, forcing the Hotshots to foul. Referees, however, reviewed the lay-up and determined that Clarito should be called for a goaltend. The foul though stood, leading to Rain or Shine free throws.
The Hotshots though lost composure in the endgame as they conceded offensive rebounds and turned the ball over in the final seconds while failing to get a decent shot as the final seconds ticked away.
Emotions running high ahead of Game 4
With Rain or Shine closing in on a semifinal berth, Magnolia on the verge of eliminations, and the controversy that surrounded Sunday’s game, the level of physicality as well as the emotions could be at an all-time high for Game Four.
Players to watch
Zav Lucero and Santi Santillan could be the difference for their respective teams in Game Four.
Lucero had 24 points and nine rebounds on Sunday, and the sophomore has showed that he is not afraid to take the big shots by nailing a four that sent the game into overtime, and by attempting that aforementioned lay-up that resulted into a goaltending.
After averaging 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in the eliminations, Santillan had a huge outing in Game Three after scoring 13 and pulling down 13 in Game Three to complement the play of the injured Fuller.
NLEX vs. TNT
When: Tuesday, October 1. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Tropang Giga on the verge of a semis berth
TNT holds a 2-1 series lead in the quarterfinals after a 109-91 victory over NLEX last Sunday. Five players scored in double digits led by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who had 27 points and 12 rebounds, but the Tropang Giga also got a huge outing from Glenn Khobuntin, who was 5-of-5 from threes.
Defense could bring TNT to the semis
TNT’s defense is expected to be its weapon for the clincher after holding off DeQuan Jones to 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field. Robert Bolick had 12 points in Game Three but it still was a far cry from his 20.4 average during the elimination round. Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes hailed the team’s effort in clamping down on the two players, and a similar effort could take TNT to a semifinal seat.
Herndon, Policarpio should stay consistent
The series have seen the emergence of Robbie Herndon, who is averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds over the past two games, and Jonnel Policarpio, who had 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field while being tasked to guard TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. A similar effort from the two as well as the other NLEX players would help in easing the load of DeQuan Jones and Robert Bolick.
Threes could win Game 4
TNT has been winning the three-point battle even in its lone defeat of the series. In Game Three, the Tropang Giga knocked down a total of 15, with five coming from Glenn Khobuntin and three from Calvin Oftana. Another fiery performance from TNT from the outside could spell doom for NLEX in Game Four.
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