Rey Nambatac and the TNT Tropang 5G look to sustain their fine play as they take on Meralco in Game 1 of their best-of-seven PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals series.
Rey Nambatac and the TNT Tropang 5G look to strike first as they clash with the Meralco Bolts in Game 1 of their PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday, Jan. 4.
The match kicks off at 5:15 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[WATCH: PBA LIVESTREAM: Meralco vs TNT | Philippine Cup semis Game 1]
TNT enters the best-of-seven series seeking to set the tone early in what is only the fourth playoff meeting between the two franchises, with Meralco holding a slim 2–1 edge in their postseason history.
The Tropang 5G will draw confidence from their dramatic 100–98 overtime win over the Bolts in the elimination round, a game that showcased their resilience under pressure.
That night belonged to Nambatac, who poured in 18 of his 22 points in the second half, including two crucial four-point plays in the fourth quarter.
His crowning moment came with 0.9 seconds left in overtime, when he drilled the game-winning floater to seal the comeback.
TNT will once again lean on his poise and shot-making as the Tropang 5G try to seize early control of the series.
With momentum on their side and a familiar opponent across the floor, TNT aims to open the semifinals with authority—and take a crucial first step toward a return to the Finals.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.