No knockout games for TNT for a while, but it doesn't mean the road to the Grand Slam gets easier as the Tropang 5G meet Rain or Shine in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
The rivalry continues.
For the fourth consecutive conference, TNT Tropang 5G and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will square off in the PBA playoffs — this time in the Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals.
It marks the third straight semis duel between the two sides, with TNT having won the last two.
Rain or Shine, however, got the better of their foes in the 2024 Philippine Cup quarterfinals, adding more intrigue to this budding postseason feud.
TNT enters the series as the no. 6 seed, but still very much alive in its pursuit of a historic Grand Slam, having already won the season’s first two conferences.
The Tropang 5G had to claw their way past third-seed Magnolia, winning two straight knockout games by a combined two points in the quarterfinals to stay in the hunt.
Despite losing Finals MVPs Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac to injury, TNT remains dangerous.
The timely arrival of Jordan Heading via mid-conference trade has bolstered TNT’s firepower, complementing the team’s veteran core of RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and quarterfinals hero Kelly Williams.
With a Grand Slam dream and bragging rights at stake, this semifinal chapter between TNT and ROS promises to be their fiercest yet. Game 1 is scheduled for June 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]