TNT and Rain or Shine start their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal match-up on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
A series that could have been a finals match-up, the top two teams at the end of the elimination round square off in a best-of-seven affair that would definitely be a must-see.
Here’s a couple of burning questions for the semifinals series.
Can the defending champions stop the darkhorse of the conference?
TNT is stepping closer to returning to the finals of the conference that the Tropang Giga are technically the defending championships.
The 48th Season of the Governors’ Cup wasn’t staged, making this conference as the only time they will defend the crown since winning the 2023 Governors’ Cup at the expense of Barangay Ginebra.
Prior to reaching the semifinals, the Tropang Giga took the No. 1 spot in Group A, and defeated NLEX in four games during the quarterfinals.
Standing in the way of TNT is Rain or Shine, a team also captured the top-seed in Group B, and needed five games to overcome Magnolia in the quarterfinals. After beating the 2018 title-winner in the Hotshots, the Elasto Painters will be facing another team that is used to winning during the playoffs in the Tropang Giga.
Can TNT avenge its Philippine Cup playoff loss to Rain or Shine?
TNT and Rain or Shine were once finals foes, with the Tropang Giga on the winning end of their two previous championship showdowns – 2012-2013 Philippine Cup via sweep and the 2015 Commissioner Cup via seven games.
However, the tournament format where the top seeds of the two groups facing in the semifinals prevented a possible rematch between the two teams in the finals after nine years.
But it doesn’t take away the intriguing aspect of the match-up.
For this series, TNT wants a measure of revenge against Rain or Shine as they take on each other in the semifinals.
Last conference, the Tropang Giga missed the semifinals of the Philippine Cup after losing the final two games of their best-of-three series over the Elasto Painters, prompting them to make changes in their roster (more of this below).
Is Rain or Shine’s depth enough to beat a veteran TNT side in the playoffs?
Rain or Shine may be young but the Elasto Painters boast of a depth that is one of the best in the league, leading the league in bench points during the elimination round with 57.8 points.
TNT’s depth isn’t exactly thin either, as it was eighth in both starter points and bench points during the eliminations, with championship experience also in their resume.
The Tropang Giga even added Rey Nambatac in a trade with Blackwater prior to the season, with head coach Chot Reyes saying the absence of guards after Jayson Castro got injured during the Rain or Shine series specifically the reason behind acquiring the ex-Rain or Shine player.
Can ROS’ running game overcome TNT’s defense?
Known primarily for their offense in previous seasons, TNT has stepped up on defense this conference, even leading the league in points allowed during the eliminations with an average of 87 points. They may have conceded 95.5 points against NLEX in the quarterfinals, but it was still the least among the eight teams that advanced in the first round.
On the other side, Rain or Shine made a living with its running game, resulting to being No. 2 in points scored with 112.2 and No. 1 in fastbreak points with 24.2 during the eliminations.
They got a test during the quarterfinal series against a defensive-minded Magnolia when its points scored and fastbreak points were limited to 100.4 and 11.0 respectively. Can they overcome another defensive team in TNT?
Which import with contrasting styles will dominate the series?
The import match-up between Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Aaron Fuller is an interesting one with their contrasting styles of play.
Hollis-Jefferson can play multiple positions as shown with his average of 32.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks during the quarterfinals.
Fuller, on the other hand, plays more from the low block, but can still do everything after posting 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the Elasto Painters during the quarterfinals.
The imports may not be defending each other for the most part in the semifinals, so it will be up for the locals to contain them.
Can Calvin Oftana and Felix Lemetti set the tone for their respective teams in three-point shooting?
Felix Lemetti and Calvin Oftana are in the top two in three-points made average during the eliminations with 2.7 and 2.56 respectively, so it was no surprise that Rain or Shine (110) and TNT (103) are in the top two as well in total threes made.
Their shooting performance were contrasting during the quarterfinals.
Lemetti struggled to make his shots in the quarterfinals, hitting just 2-of-17 from threes and was nearly a non-factor in the Magnolia series until he dished out six assists in the pivotal Game Five.
Oftana, meanwhile, has regained his rhythm from the outside after sustaining a nasty cut in his lip during their final elimination round game against NorthPort that required 30 stitches to close, knocking down three each in the last two matches of the NLEX series.
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