RAIN or Shine and TNT try to sustain their strong start when they clash with their respective opponents in Game 2 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Elasto Painters take on the Barangay Ginebra Kings at 5:15 p.m., with the charges of coach Yeng Guiao looking to follow up on their heart-stopping 115-111 victory in Game 1.
TNT, led by Best Import top candidate Bol Bol, faces Meralco at 7:30 p.m. as it also shoots for a 2-0 series lead.
Rain or Shine import Jaylen Johnson erupted for 40 points even as locals Jhon Clarito, Adrian Nocum and Gian Mamuyac also chipped in solid numbers in the Elasto Painters’ thrilling four-point win to grab an early 1-0 series lead.
But Guiao knows taking Game 1 guarantees nothing.
“We got lucky once, but we’ll see how lucky we could get again,” Guiao said in Filipino after winning Game 1.
“These are the guys, who were told to buy vinegar and here they are, playing in the semis,” he added, in jest.
On a serious note, Ginebra knows this Rain or Shine team is no pushover.
In fact, the Elasto Painters showed a lot of heart despite playing without big man Caelan Tiongson, who was downed by diarrhea, and Luis Villegas, who sustained a hamstring injury during the early part of the third quarter in Game 1.
Guiao is hopeful, that Tiongson, the team’s top defensive player, can finally see action in Game 2 since he is expected to draw the main assignment against three-time PBA Best Import Justin Brownlee.
Meanwhile, TNT is looking to follow up on its 94-89 win in Game 1 where the 7-3 Bol posted a dominant stats line of 37 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks.
With Roger Pogoy and Jordan Heading back in harness after sustaining separate injuries during the conference, the Tropang 5G have solid scorers to support Bol.
“That’s really a lineup we like going to because it’s pretty hard to match up and defend that lineup,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, referring to Bol and his veteran local players.
“We were struggling the whole conference trying to find that combination and that balance. But remember we were never fully healthy in the eliminations,” he added.