TNT is gunning for a semifinal repeat vs Rain or Shine to keep its Grand Slam dream alive. The two teams will face in the penultimate stage for the third straight time, with the Tropang 5G winning the last two against the Elasto Painters.
The road to a Grand Slam doesn’t get easier, but TNT Tropang 5G continue to rise to every challenge.
Fresh off back-to-back do-or-die wins over Magnolia in the quarterfinals, TNT now turns its attention to familiar foes in Rain or Shine as Game 1 of their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinal series tips off Wednesday, June 25.
The match starts at 5 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
[RELATED STORY: Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan looking forward to matchup with Calvin Oftana in PBA semis]
It marks the third straight conference the Tropang 5G and the Elasto Painters clash in the semifinals — with TNT winning the previous two and eventually claiming both the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup titles. Now, the No. 6 seed TNT, hungry for a historic Grand Slam, is out to assert its dominance once more.
Even without injured Finals MVPs Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac, TNT has remained sharp and dangerous.
[ALSO READ: Even without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, TNT still formidable in PBA semis says ROS coach Yeng Guiao]
RR Pogoy delivered a 18-point performance in their 80-79 win over Magnolia, while Calvin Oftana posted the same number of points. Jordan Heading, acquired from Converge in the tailend of the elims, is steadily growing into a key role as TNT’s lead playmaker.
Kelly Williams also proved to be instrumental in their disposing of the Road Warriors, none more evident in their semifinal seat-clinching win that saw him can the two game-winning free throws in the dying seconds.
The Tropang 5G know the stakes — and history — are on their side. But as they begin this new best-of-seven war, they’ll have to outlast a surging Rain or Shine side determined to write its own comeback story.
[ALSO READ: Yeng Guiao says Rain or Shine is ‘gate-crasher’ of PBA semis cast: ‘Pinabili lang ng suka’]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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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.]