The PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis is set to tip off later today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with the Meralco Bolts and TNT Tropang 5G opening hostilities, followed by Barangay Ginebra and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Can Rain or Shine Speed Things Up?
Rain or Shine likes to play fast, and their 84.8 possessions per 48 minutes prove as much. That’s also when they’re at their best, getting straight-line drives to the basket and open treys when they’re in the open court. But, against Ginebra, the Elasto Painters are facing the most deliberate team in the PBA this conference. Tim Cone and Ginebra will try to do their best to make each game a half-court battle, so it’s up to Yeng Guiao’s boys to push the pace. Can they do it?
How Is Justin Brownlee for the Semis?
Brownlee tweaked his right hamstring in Ginebra’s win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the quarterfinals. He said he’s okay, but Cone appears worried about potentially losing the war long term given JB’s condition. With the barangay relying a lot on JB, his fitness for this series could be the ultimate game-changer. Put simply, a healthy Brownlee probably means Ginebra is the favorite; otherwise, Rain or Shine might have the advantage. So, is Brownlee really okay?
Is TNT Really Back?
In two wins over the NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals, the Tropa looked like themselves for the first time this conference. Bol Bol did his thing, and the locals came alive, with the trio of RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Jayson Castro leading the way. If this continues, Meralco could be in a whale of trouble because stopping Bol is hard enough. Doing so with the locals confident and making plays makes it an impossible task. Are we seeing the real Tropang 5G now?
Can Meralco Avoid Those Droughts?
For a team that shoots over 45% overall, the Bolts go through long stretches where they can’t seem to make a shot. And it almost always happens when they face great defensive teams like TNT. Needless to say, Meralco can’t have these scoring droughts—especially not against an elite squad like the Tropa that can put up points in bunches real quick. Fortunately for the Bolts, they have the weapons to do that, but can they?
