GROUP A action in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup resumes at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday with intriguing match-ups between NorthPort and Converge, and TNT against Magnolia.
NorthPort vs. Converge
When: Thursday, August 28, 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
Where the teams stand
Converge currently shares the lead in Group A with TNT and Meralco on the strength of a 2-1 win-loss record. NorthPort follows in joint fourth with Magnolia with a 1-1 slate.
Search for back-to-back wins
NorthPort looks for a second straight win after defeating Terrafirma, 112-93, behind the 31-point night of William Navarro. Converge also goes for back-to-back wins, eager to follow-up on its 96-95 victory that saw Scotty Hopson draining a four-point shot, the game-winning shot of that kind in PBA history. The FiberXers are also trying to retain the lead in Group A.
Running game
NorthPort displayed its running game in its win over Terrafirma by chalking 24 fastbreak points, and 31 points off turnovers, an aspect of the Batang Pier’s game that Converge will definitely be aiming to contain. In its loss to TNT, NorthPort only had 14 fastbreak points and 11 points off turnovers.
Lakay faces son’s team
A sidelight to this game is Converge deputy coach Danny Ildefonso will be up against his son’s team NorthPort. It is Ildefonso’s first game since he was fined P20,000 for his “farm team” comments on Facebook in relation to his son Dave, who has not signed with NorthPort even after being picked No. 5 by the league.
Ildefonso was fined after he replied “sabihin mo ‘yan sa farm team mo” to a fan’s comment that his son should be banned by the league.
TNT vs. Magnolia
When: Thursday, August 28, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
Tropa’s shocking defeat
TNT is coming off a stinging setback when it lost to Converge on a four-pointer. The Tropang Giga were already leading by 16 points in the game before the stinging setback that also prevented them from staying unbeaten. A win over Magnolia would somehow ease the losing feeling in historic fashion.
Magnolia goes for back-to-back
The Hotshots seek to secure a second straight win in this marquee match-up between playoff teams. Magnolia defeated Converge, 105-93, last Friday to get into the win column following a loss to Meralco in the season opener.
Match-up between two former NBA players
The two imports who had a extensive NBA experience will be facing each other in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Glenn Robinson III. Hollis-Jefferson played six years in the NBA with Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers, while Robinson had a seven-year career with Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.
Whose bench will step up
The bench has been the key for TNT in the past three games, averaging 24 non-starter points this conference. Magnolia, meanwhile, got 38 bench points in the win over Converge with Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva producing.
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