THE PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup is finally in the playoff stage with the quarterfinals. On tap on Tuesday are the two No. 1 teams who will look to start their series on a high note.
Here’s a preview of the two series.
TNT vs. NLEX
When: Wednesday, September 25. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
How they got here
TNT took the No. 1 spot in Group A with an 8-2 win-loss record, setting up a showdown with Group B’s No. 4 that eventually became NLEX, a team which narrowly made it to the quarterfinals after winning the quotient against Blackwater when the two squads finished with similar 5-5 records.
Strengths
TNT showed it can play defense by only giving up 87 points, the least by any team during the group stage. The Tropang Giga are also second in steals with 8.8 and blocks with 3.6.
NLEX, however, can put points on the board, being fourth in the league in scoring with 104.6, including 71.7 from their starters.
Weaknesses
The Tropang Giga aren’t particularly a good offensive team this conference, being 11th in the league with 94.5, just above last place Terrafirma. TNT is last in the league in assists with 18.6.
The Road Warriors haven’t received that much offensive production from their second stringers, being 10th in the league in bench points with 32.9. They are also not exactly a good shot blocking team, being at eighth in the conference with 2.7.
Rough shooting for Oftana
Calvin Oftana struggled in hitting his shots in the last stage of the eliminations, going 5-of-25 in the games against Magnolia and Terrafirma. Oftana had a chance to atone for himself in the NorthPort game, shooting 2-of-3, but was taken out of the game in the first quarter after sustaining a cut in his lip following a collision with Arvin Tolentino. Oftana’s shooting will be key in the NLEX series.
Can DeQuan Jones lead NLEX to upset win in series?
DeQuan Jones has been what the doctor ordered for NLEX, with his 40.0-point average over the last three games resulting to two wins. He might need to score at this pace during the entire series in order to pull off the upset.
READ: RoS, TNT in line for semis clash under PBA Governors Cup's format
Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine
When: Wednesday, September 25. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
How they got here
Rain or Shine took the No. 1 spot in Group B with a 7-3 win-loss record, and will face Magnolia, the fourth-ranked squad in Group A with a 5-5 slate.
Strengths
When it comes to defense, Magnolia is one of the best teams in the league, giving up the second-least 92.4 points during the eliminations. Rain or Shine isn’t bad on D either with 4.6 blocks per outing, a league best.
Rain or Shine will run at every chance possible, leading the league in fastbreak points with 24.2 and second in turnover points with 16.5. They also has the most assists in the league with an average of 26.4.
Weaknesses
The Elasto Painters are last in starters points with 54.4, although they make it up with a league-best 57.8 bench points.
The Hotshots are last in free throws made with 17.7, with the Elasto Painters at second with 28.6. They also give up the third-most turnovers with 16.2.
Can Rayvonte Rice show his form?
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao isn’t convinced that we have already seen the best of Magnolia import Rayvonte Rice, who scored just five points and made just 2-of-14 from the field. Now with time to get accustomed to the team, Rice could show his true potential in the playoffs.
READ: Rice still pulling punches, Converge on a tear
Young team gets acid test from hereon
The season is just beginning for the Elasto Painters, who now enters the playoff stage, a true test for the young team that is seen as a darkhorse this conference. Beating Magnolia in the quarterfinal series will be huge to their title hopes.
READ: Rain or Shine is the dark horse the PBA needs right now
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.
