TNT and Barangay Ginebra will be the headliner of Friday’s doubleheader in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Here’s what to look forward to in the two matches:
EASTERN VS. TERRAFIRMA
When: Friday, January 17. 5 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Eastern looks to join race for twice-to-beat
Eastern resumes its PBA campaign on Friday against Terrafirma. The Hong Kong team holds a 6-3 win-loss record and is part of a tight battle mid-table, being in a share of fourth place with Barangay Ginebra, Meralco, and Rain or Shine. A win by Eastern will bring them up the ladder with NorthPort and Converge, either in a share of first or second, depending on the result of the second game between TNT and Barangay Ginebra.
Terrafirma extends skid
A win seems to be nowhere in sight for Terrafirma after it slipped to its 10th straight defeat after its 96-86 loss to Blackwater last Wednesday, unless the Dyip do something about it against Eastern.
Weary Eastern?
For a few players of Eastern, Friday’s match will actually be their third straight game in three days as the ballclub played in the EASL last Wednesday and the semifinals of the Hong Kong A1 Championship last Thursday. Several mainstays, however, stayed in Manila with one-day preparation against Terrafirma.
Players to watch
Glen Yang struggled in Eastern’s 88-83 loss to Meralco last January 5 when he only had two points and shooting 0 of 5 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free throw line.
Vic Manuel’s point production has slipped over the past three games including in a game against Blackwater last Wednesday, where he was held scoreless.
TNT VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
When: Friday, January 17. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Rematch of the Governors’ Cup Finals
TNT and Barangay Ginebra renew their brewing rivalry as they face off for the first time since the Tropang Giga captured the PBA Governors’ Cup title last November 8 against the Gin Kings. Action is expected to be as intense as their title series with both teams now battling for positioning for the playoffs. TNT is currently at first place with a 5-2 win-loss record, while Ginebra is in a logjam at fourth with Eastern, Meralco, and Rain or Shine.
Troy Rosario plays TNT for the first time as a Gin King
Ginebra will be flashing a different line-up from that finals with Troy Rosario expected to be on the spotlight as he faces the team that drafted him and played for in his first seven years in the PBA. His previous game was also against a former squad in Blackwater, where he got eight points and seven rebounds. Will we see similar numbers from Troy in Friday’s ballgame?
RHJ out to bounce back
TNT leaned on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in their 94-87 win over NLEX, but the two-time Best Import was frustrated at himself after that match-up when he only made 6 of 12 free throws and 7 of 25 from the field. RHJ will be looking to bounce back in the all-important contest against Ginebra.
Tough final stretch for Barangay Ginebra
After their 86-63 win over Blackwater, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone is bracing for difficult games beginning with the match-up against TNT as it seeks to secure the best seeding possible in the playoffs.
“We’ve got a tough schedule left. We've got Talk ‘N Text, Rain or Shine, and Meralco in our last three games. So this was a really important game for us [against Blackwater] to take care of because we don’t want to put the pressure on us, having to sweep those three games just to get to the playoffs. Those teams are too good, no margin for error. So it’s really about consistency, consistent effort, and consistent focus. And we just haven't been showing that throughout this whole conference.
“But it’s a long season, not just this conference, but the whole season is long, and it's hard to keep that intensity up all the time,” said Cone.
Whose defense will hold?
Both teams are fresh from excellent defensive efforts, with TNT and Barangay Ginebra giving up the least points to their respective opponents for the conference.
The two coaches are expecting a lot from their defense in the final stretch.
“As the playoffs come closer, I expect our guys to become more consistent and to lock in a little bit more to the way we defend,” Cone added.
TNT coach Chot Reyes wants his players to also have a consistent effort on defense especially after the NLEX game where he felt they relaxed when star player Robert Bolick didn’t start in that game.
“I thought we were taking it a little bit too easy at the start especially when we saw that Bollick wasn't starting. Thankfully, we recovered that towards the end. But still, the way we finished the game leaves me very disappointed and, that’s something that we have to talk about as a team as well,” Reyes said.
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.
