Unbeaten TNT KaTropa seeks a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals when it battles NLEX in a matchup between the top two teams in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The KaTropa go for their eighth win of the conference in the match set at 7 p.m. while aiming to become the first team to gain the quarterfinal bonus in the season-ending conference.
TNT is expected to once again have its hands full, especially against an NLEX side almost assured of a quarters berth with a second-best 5-1 record.
Adding intrigue to the contest is the expected duel between former NBA players of TNT and Manny Harris of NLEX.
McDaniels continues to carry TNT this conference with averages of 36.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 4.0 blocks.
He played a key role in TNT’s latest victory last Friday, dropping eight points in overtime to beat Alaska 99-93 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Harris, meanwhile, made a strong impression in his debut last Oct. 16 when he dropped 45 points to power NLEX over Columbian 117-111, also in Antipolo.
TNT’s Troy Rosario and NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena are keen on continuing their impressive showing.
Rosario is ranked second in the team in scoring with an average of 18.6 points and almost won Player of the Week honors from the PBA Press Corps for the second straight week.
Ravena has emerged as one of the league’s top players, making up for lost time after his lengthy FIBA ban with numbers of 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
Columbian shoots for solo sixth in the standings in the 4:30 p.m. opener against Phoenix Pulse, which will parade new import and ex-NBA cager Alonzo Gee.
The Dyip try to move past the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok and NorthPort Batang Pier in a tie at 3-4 and boost their chances of making the quarters for the first time since the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
Meanwhile, the league is deliberating at presstime the proposed trade that would send Blackwater’s Allein Maliksi, Raymar Jose and a future pick to Meralco in exchange for Mike Tolomia and KG Canaleta. (Jonas Terrado)
