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TNT heads into Saturday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup clash with renewed urgency, determined to turn frustration into fuel after a painful defeat in its last outing.
The Tropang 5G seek an immediate rebound when they take on struggling Terrafirma at 5:15 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with both teams looking to steady themselves as the elimination round begins to tighten.
Still stinging from a 110-106 loss to Meralco last Tuesday, TNT is eager to get back on track and improve its 2-2 record. The defeat was a tough one to swallow, especially after the Tropang 5G found themselves buried in a deep hole before nearly pulling off a comeback. That missed opportunity has only sharpened their resolve heading into their next assignment.
On paper, TNT appears to have the edge.
A major boost could come from Bol Bol, who is expected to be in far better shape after team officials said he had been under the weather in the Meralco game. The 7-foot-3 import still delivered 28 points and 12 rebounds despite not being at full strength, but TNT will be counting on him to bring more energy on the defensive end and provide a stronger two-way presence this time around.
Roger Pogoy is also expected to look more comfortable after making his conference debut against the Bolts. The veteran guard was limited to just five points in that game, but TNT remains confident he will gradually rediscover his rhythm and provide another scoring punch alongside Jordan Heading, Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac.
For Terrafirma, the challenge is just as pressing.
After opening the conference with three straight victories and emerging as one of the early surprises, the Dyip have suddenly lost momentum. Back-to-back defeats to Phoenix Super LPG and Magnolia, both by lopsided margins, have exposed cracks in a team that once looked ready to make serious noise.
Now carrying a 3-2 record, Terrafirma is desperate to stop the bleeding and regain the form that made it one of the hottest teams early in the tournament.
Much of that hope rests on import Mubashar Ali, who was dominant in the Dyip’s first three games, averaging 33 points and 19.7 rebounds. But in the last two contests, his production dipped sharply, scoring only 13 and 18 points. Terrafirma needs him to rediscover that early explosiveness if it hopes to go toe-to-toe with a TNT side hungry for redemption.
Paolo Hernandez also needs to bounce back after his own offensive decline. From averaging 16 points in the Dyip’s first three outings, he managed just nine against Phoenix before being held scoreless by Magnolia. His return to form would be crucial for a Terrafirma team looking for more support around its core scorers.
That leaves Jerrick Ahanmisi as the Dyip’s most reliable weapon heading into the matchup. Averaging 23.2 points per game, he has been the one steady force for Terrafirma. But against TNT, he is likely to face relentless defensive attention, making his job far tougher.
For TNT, this game is about response. For Terrafirma, it is about recovery.
One team wants redemption. The other wants to stop a skid before it worsens. That gives Saturday’s showdown the feel of a pivotal early-season test for both sides.
