TNT and NLEX will each be without a vital cog when they face each other in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
TNT aims to pounce on Robert Bolick-less NLEX to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Saturday, Dec. 13.
Match begins at 5:15 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
[WATCH: PBA LIVESTREAM: TNT Tropang 5G vs NLEX Road Warriors | Philippine Cup]
Sporting a 5–3 record at sixth, the Tropang 5G need to snap from a two-game slide to guarantee their spot in the next round.
Standing in their way is quarterfinal-bound NLEX, who is now focusing on its next goal of a Top Four finish, but will be without its star, Robert Bolick, who is fulfilling his Gilas Pilipinas duties in the Southeast Asian Games.
TNT is coming off a tough 95–110 loss to San Miguel in its first game back after the league's lengthy break due to the Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA World Cup Qualifiers campaign.
Despite the loss, Jordan Heading shone with 18 points, highlighted by four three-pointers, while Calvin Oftana chipped in 16 markers.
TNT will need its perimeter shooting to stay sharp against the disciplined Road Warriors.
However, the Tropang 5G will miss the services of Poy Erram, who is also with Gilas in Thailand.
Erram's absence puts more pressure on TNT’s remaining big men to control the paint against NLEX.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]