THE PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup is down to four teams, with their semifinal showdowns starting Wednesday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Here is a preview.
MERALCO VS. TNT
When: Wednesday, May 20. 5:15 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
MVP teams start semis series
For the second consecutive conference, TNT and Meralco battle it out in the semis, this time in the Comm’s Cup.
Last conference, the Bolts overcame a twice-to-win disadvantage as the seventh-seed to beat No. 2 Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals. This conference, it was TNT’s turn to do so, but in their case, as the eighth-seed in ousting top-ranked NLEX, 118-112, last Saturday.
Elimination round match-up
Meralco defeated TNT, 110-106, last April 7. A big reason for the win was the Bolts' ability to limit Bol Bol to a conference-low 28 points, while only converting only nine field goal attempts.
Locals under the spotlight
TNT’s upset of NLEX is being attributed to the contributions of the locals after the trio of RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Jayson Castro chipped in for the Bol-led Tropang 5G. Pogoy had 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals; Oftana had 20 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks; and Castro had 12 points and eight assists in the knockout game against the Road Warriors.
Meralco’s locals have been producing all conference long to complement Marvin Jones. Chris Newsome, CJ Cansino, Cliff Hodge, and Bong Quinto combined for 59 points in the Bolts’ 106-102 overtime win over Magnolia in their own knockout game.
BARANGAY GINEBRA VS. RAIN OR SHINE
When: Wednesday, May 20. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ynares Center-Antipolo
Blockbuster semis
Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine fight for the right to enter the finals. The series is primed to be a blockbuster affair, as their elims meeting drew one of the highest-rated games on TV this conference.
On one side is the league’s most popular ball club in the Gin Kings. The Elasto Painters, for their part, are starting to add much more to their following thanks to their exceptional showing this conference.
First playoff series in six years
Ginebra and Rain or Shine collide in a playoff series for the first time after nearly six years when the Gin Kings defeated the Elasto Painters, 81-73, in the quarters.
Pace of play
Game 1 could be won by whoever asserts its style of play.
Rain or Shine likes to run, as shown by its league-leading 84.8 pace, an advanced statistic that measures how fast a team plays. Ginebra, on the other hand, flourishes in a deliberate style of play, as shown by its league-low 72.3 pace.
Bombs away
Outside shooting could also determine the winner of the series with the way both teams have been connecting from beyond the arc this conference. Ginebra leads the league in three-point shooting with 13.2 per game, while being closely followed by Rain or Shine with 13.1.
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