The TNT Tropang Giga and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will look to arrange a Finals rematch later today as the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals continue at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The two teams, which faced off in a tense six-game championship series in the PBA Governors’ Cup, are both ahead 3-1 but are coming off vastly different results from Game 4.
TNT Looks to Close Doors on Rain or Shine
The TNT Tropang Giga are soldiering on without their heart and soul, Jayson Castro, and Game 4 showed they are still quite formidable even without The Blur. Thanks to a combined 48 points from Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy and the all-around brilliance of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (17 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks), the Tropa came away with a huge 93-85 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to get a 3-1 advantage in the series.
Oftana and company are looking for a repeat performance later in Game 5, particularly on offense. Aside from Oftana’s 26 and Pogoy’s 22, Rey Nambatac also added 12, while Kim Aurin chipped in 9 off the TNT bench as the Tropa collectively made up for Castro’s absence on that side of the ball. TNT will also lean on its elite defense, which smothered Rain or Shine’s emerging star, Adrian Nocum, into 4 measly points on 1-for-7 shooting from the field. He also turned the ball over four times.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, will look to rediscover their fiery offense that was missing in Game 4. Unleashing Nocum will likely be a priority as he has been the Elasto Painters’ leading scorer this conference. Rain or Shine will also need more local production, with import Deon Thompson’s monster 44-point effort going for naught because of the lack of local firepower.
Game 5 between TNT and Rain or Shine is set at 5:00 p.m.
Ginebra Goes for Gentleman’s Sweep
After starting the series with three dominant victories, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel appeared headed for a sweep. But the NorthPort Batang Pier had other plans, putting together their best game yet to frustrate the crowd darlings, 108-103, and send the series to a Game 5.
The Batang Pier are obviously hoping for a repeat performance, and they will need to bring the same type of energy and intensity they brought in Game 4—on both ends. This was typified by surprise starter Paolo Taha, who had 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals while pressuring Ginebra’s guards. Arvin Tolentino also got untracked, leading the NorthPort offense with 20 points—18 in the second half—and 11 assists.
Getting that offense going again will definitely be key for NorthPort. But Ginebra’s top-ranked defense that limited opponents to 91.5 points a game in the eliminations will surely have something to say about it. The barangay will also look to build on their fiery windup to Game 4, when a 10-0 run in the final three minutes gave them a chance to either send the game to OT or win it outright with a four-pointer.
Game 5 between Ginebra and NorthPort is at 7:00 p.m.
