Unbeaten TNT KaTropa goes for win No. 6 and a virtual quarterfinals berth when it faces streaking Meralco in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
An improved defense will again be the KaTropa’s main goal in the second game of the Petron Saturday Special at 6:45 p.m. after close calls in their last three outings.
The KaTropa came close to absorbing their first loss of the conference when they got the big breaks in squeezing past the NorthPort Batang Pier, 103-100, last Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Achieving that will be more difficult than ever with Meralco going into the contest having won back-to-back games and a 3-1 record.
But Meralco coach Norman Black is also dealing with his team’s own problems of having to stop TNT.
“That’s a tough one coming up,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, who is focus on trying to control TNT’s strength on offense.
“You can scout them and you’d pretty much know what’s coming. The problem is when they start raining those threes on you, it becomes very, very difficult to stop them,” added Black.
Black will to map out a plan to neutralize TNT import KJ McDaniels, who is averaging 33.8 points, 15.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.6 blocks.
Bolts import Allen Durham enters the game with averages of 26.3 points, 15.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
Locals Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Don Trollano match up with Meralco counterparts Baser Amer, Raymond Almazan and Chris Newsome.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Pulse shoots for another win against struggling NorthPort in the 4:30 p.m. opener.
The Fuel Masters, carrying a record of 2-4, try to ride on the momentum of their 86-84 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on RR Garcia’s buzzer-beating layup.
NorthPort is in dire straits as it looks to snap a four-game skid that came after starting the conference on a winning note. (Jonas Terrado)
