TNT is on a roll and continues to climb the standings of the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
The Tropang Giga rallied past the struggling NLEX Road Warriors, 94-87, for their fifth straight win and solo second place with a 5-2 slate.
It's the opposite meanwhile for NLEX, which lost for the fifth straight game and fell to a 3-6 record.
PBA TAKEAWAYS: Magnolia just can't shake off 'bad habit'
The other game Wednesday night had Blackwater extending Terrafirma's winless streak to 10 after a 96-86 victory.
The Bossing improved to a 2-7 record as they snapped out of a four-game losing streak to remain in the running for a quarterfinals berth.
Here are the takeaways from the Ninoy Aquino Stadium doubleheader.
1. BLACKWATER WINS ‘TITLE DUEL’ - many jokingly billed it as the 'championship game' as it fits the two perennial teams at the bottom of the standings. In this case, the Bossing prevailed over the Dyip as they rode on the hot pair of import George King and veteran Justine Chua, who combined for 43 points in carving out the team's second win in nine outings. It’s the first win of the Bossing over their fellow expansion franchise this season as the two teams didn’t belong in the same group during the Governors’ Cup and therefore didn’t cross paths.
2. CAN BOSSING STILL MAKE IT? - mathematically, the team still has flickering hopes of making the playoffs given how close teams are in the leaderboard. But it will take a whole lot of effort from coach Jeff Cariaso and his team to pull off the feat considering it will still be up against the likes of Converge, Northport, and Phoenix. And the Bossing will have to do it without an injured rookie gunner in Sedrick Barefield, who is dealing with plantar fasciitis issues. But who knows, miracles do happen.
3. TNT TAKING THE SAME PATH AS ITS GOVERNORS’ CUP TITLE RUN – like its current run, the Tropang Giga also strung together a five-game winning streak during the season opening Governors’ Cup. And everybody knows how their campaign ended as the team was able to retain its title with a six-game victory over Barangay Ginebra in the finals. Will history repeat itself again? Incidentally, TNT extended its current winning run on Friday against Ginebra in a rematch of their title series.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
