At the last conference, coach Chot Reyes and his TNT troops were off to a 0-2 fumbling start before finding rhythm to start winning and going on to bag a second straight crown in PBA Season 49.
Once again, on a 0-2 conference start, the Tropang Giga hope to repeat their Commissioner’s Cup rise, seeking a first win versus the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the league’s visit to a new playing venue in Rizal—the Ynares Sports Center Montalban.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m., with the Fuel Masters aiming for a second win in five starts for their part.
Reyes has anticipated a challenging ride in this tourney, with their big adjustment on the absence of do-it-all resident import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and everyone’s desire to stop their chase of history.
But Reyes said they won’t stop trying, and their immediate goal is to check their skid.
Minus RHJ and Jayson Castro and looking tight coming from a breather, the Tropang Giga fell to a 74-91 ambush by the NLEX Road Warriors, then reeled to a second loss on a 94-100 drubbing by the Converge FiberXers.
With the same start in the Commissioner’s Cup, the Tropang 5G rose in their third game, winning their next six outings and finishing the elims at 8-4.
And it’s a nice achievement to remember for Calvin Oftana and his teammates—a success story they will try to repeat starting in their Ynares Center Montalban set against the Fuel Masters.
Phoenix is also off to a slow start, losing its first two games before hitting the win column and then losing again.
Coach Jamike Jarin’s troops scored their lone win at the expense of the Meralco Bolts, 109-97. Their three losses came at the hands of the Terrafirma Dyip (87-95), the Converge FiberXers (83-92), and the Magnolia Hotshots (99-118).
They will be out for resurgence.