Round 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals between the TNT Tropang Giga and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters went to the Tropa, 88-84. It was the kind of grind it out encounter the reigning PBA Governors’ Cup champs have gotten used to winning thanks in large part to their unforgiving defense.
That’s exactly how Game 1 of TNT vs. Rain or Shine played out: The Tropang Giga relying on their vaunted defense to slow down the Elasto Painters’ high-powered offense and making just enough shots to keep the Yeng Guiao-mentored squad at bay.
“Our entire mindset was to make sure that our defense is on point because this is a top scoring team in the quarterfinals… So, we really needed to recover with our defense [with Calvin Oftana missing practice due to Gilas], and I think that’s what happened in this ballgame. We won this not on our offense but with our defense, limiting them [Rain or Shine] to below 90 points,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes in the postgame presser after Game 1.
Game 1 was a defensive masterclass for TNT as it held Rain or Shine 31 points below its quarters average of 115 and 24 below its elims average of 108. That defense was particularly clutch in the final two minutes, when the Tropa made four consecutive defensive plays to protect a slim 86-84 lead.
Reyes Expects TNT vs. Rain or Shine to Be a Dogfight
After TNT’s escape act in Game 1, Reyes believes the road ahead could potentially be tougher. In fact, he expects the rest of TNT vs. Rain or Shine to play out the same was as Game 1 did: both teams grinding it out from start to finish, with TNT’s defense testing Rain or Shine’s offense.
“It seems that it could be a game of outside shooting and then a game of a grind-out game. It’s going to be a grind the whole way through. We have no illusions that this will be easy by any means,” Reyes told reporters as he gave Rain or Shine high praise. “They’re a very well-balanced, well-constructed, well-coached team. They’re very versatile. They have a great import with them. So, we really have to be at our best. We were fortunate tonight that our defense carried us through…”
That defense did its job in Game 1, with the Tropa clamping down, in particular, on Adrian Nocum. The high-flying guard from Tondo, Manila had been on fire in the quarters, going off for 28 and 25 in the final two games while making some game-changing plays in the fourth. But Nocum was held to a relatively quiet 18 and was a non-factor in the final 12 minutes as TNT, according to Reyes, made it a priority to put the clamps on the daring slasher and “make him work for his points.”
Indeed, the Tropa will work extra hard on defense as they’ve been doing in Season 49. It will be up to the Elasto Painters to outwork their nemesis for the third straight playoffs if they want TNT vs. Rain or Shine to end up differently.
