Games Today
(Cuneta Astrodome)
4:15 p.m. – Mahindra vs TNT
7 p.m. – Phoenix vs NLEX
KaTropa, Racela at crossroads in season.
Whether TNT KaTropa will immediately heed coach Nash Racela’s call for changes or not will be known as it faces the rejuvenated Mahindra Floodbuster today in game that has playoff implications in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The KaTropa lost ground in the race for the top two spot in the quarterfinals after dropping two straight games, including a 90-77 loss to the Star Hotshots last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In that game, TNT dug a big hole early, trailing 11-2 in the first five minutes before trailing 56-39 at the half.
Racela refused to go into details regarding TNT’s struggles that has put them in a share of fifth to ninth at 4-4, although he did admit that he had gone the full route of even calling out his players in the hope of ending the struggle.
“From day one, I’ve been telling them that there has to be changes,” Racela said after the loss to the Hotshots.
“I’ve been calling out their attention – names – yung dapat baguhin. And you know changes don’t happen quickly.
“It’s never just by letting you know of your mistake, then the next day iba na kaagad,” he added. “Feeling ko medyo naglalaban din sa kanila kung mali o tama before you can start changing those things. Sana slowly mabago before the playoffs.”
TNT can’t afford another loss in the 4:15 p.m. with Mahindra since it could put the MVP franchise outside of the top eight.
Not helping the KaTropa’s cause is the possibility of the Phoenix Fuel Masters, who also have a 4-4 record, to climb up in the standings as they battle the desperate NLEX Road Warriors in the second game at 7 p.m.
A win will put Phoenix in a tie for fourth place with Blackwater, which last Sunday stunned Alaska with a 103-100 victory.
The Fuel Masters haven’t played in a more than week, falling 105-92 to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Jan. 8 at the Big Dome.
NLEX can’t afford to lose again. With a 2-6 record, the Road Warriors need to win all their remaining games in order to earn a chance at a playoff berth.
For TNT, ending its two-game skid, which began with a Jan. 6 defeat to NLEX in Angeles City, Pampanga, faces somewhat of a tall order since Mahindra is like a team on a mission following back-to-back victories.
The Floodbuster, who started with a 0-5 record, rolled past the Meralco Bolts, 105-92, exactly a week ago behind unsung hero Philip Paniamogan, who fired a career-high 25 points.