NLEX battles TNT, SMB takes on ROS
By JONAS TERRADO
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs TNT KaTropa
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine
Players who saw action for Gilas Pilipinas in the recent second window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers resume their club duties tonight as the quarterfinal race enters the crucial stretch of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy hope to keep TNT KaTropa alive against Kiefer Ravena, Kevin Alas and NLEX at 4:30 p.m. before Gabe Norwood and Rain or Shine seek to become the fifth team to clinch a quarterfinals berth against June Mar Fajardo and San Miguel at 7 p.m.
All seven players will try to be in their best form possible after an excruciating week that saw them endure long plane rides and settle for a split of the World Cup qualifiers second window against Australia in Melbourne and Japan, also at MOA Arena.
Norwood will be tasked to play a big role for Rain or Shine, which starts a hectic week that includes a Friday night encounter with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the final doubleheader of the eliminations.
Rain or Shine, carrying a 5-4 record, needs just one win to qualify for the quarters.
“Hopefully San Miguel relaxes a bit and we can have a window of opportunity against them cause we know Ginebra will come out harder because kumbaga, matalo kami sa San Miguel, knockout na sa amin yung dalawang games,” said Elasto Painters coach Caloy Garcia.
San Miguel, toting an 8-2 slate, is already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage and the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals, and Fajardo may at least play limited minutes with nothing much at stake.
Everything is at stake for Castro, Pogoy, Rosario and the rest of TNT in the curtain raiser, a loss would mean a rare early exit for one of the PBA’s most successful franchise. The KaTropa have never missed the eight-team quarters since the 2015 Governors’ Cup.
TNT is tied for ninth place with Phoenix at 4-6, half-game behind eighth-running Blackwater which ended the elims with a 5-6 record.
NLEX already cemented its place in the quarters with a 6-4 record, but needs a win for a spot in the best-of-three series given to teams which finished third to sixth. A loss could possibly relegate the Road Warriors to seventh and a dreadful twice-to-beat disadvantage against No. 2 seed Magnolia.