After jumping to a 2-0 lead in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals, the TNT Tropang 5G failed to sustain momentum against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 3.
After a tough loss in Game 3, the TNT Tropang 5G will look to bounce back and move one win away from the Finals when they battle the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 2.
The match starts at 7:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
[RELATED STORY: Anton Asistio unlikely hero in Rain or Shine’s breakthrough vs TNT in Game 3 of PBA semis]
TNT still holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, but Game 3’s 86-107 defeat exposed some glaring holes—most notably the absence of RR Pogoy, who remains doubtful for Game 4 due to a left hamstring injury.
Without their main scorer, the Tropang 5G struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm and had no answers for Rain or Shine’s Anton Asistio, who erupted for 24 points, highlighted by four triples and two four-pointers in Game 3.
Calvin Oftana, who torched the Elasto Painters for 39 points in Game 2, was held to 16 points and eight rebounds this time around. The support from the rest of the team also fell short against a fired-up Rain or Shine squad that refused to go down quietly.
[ALSO READ: Calvin Oftana takes over for TNT in PBA PH Cup semis, earns fourth Player of the Week honor]
TNT coach Chot Reyes acknowledged Pogoy’s status remains uncertain, leaving the likes of Oftana, Jordan Heading, and Poy Erram to shoulder the offensive load. Heading and Erram, both pivotal in TNT’s early series wins, will need to rediscover their groove to help the team inch closer to a third straight Finals appearance this season.
With Rain or Shine brimming with confidence and momentum, TNT must respond with urgency in Game 4—or risk allowing the Elasto Painters to turn the tide in this tightly contested series.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Adrian Nocum inks three-year deal to stay with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
——
[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.]