Game Thursday (Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City)

6:45 p.m. — Talk ’N Text vs Petron Blaze

Game Friday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)

6:45 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Powerade

MANILA, Philippines — Talk N’ Text and Petron Blaze, teams that figured in the final of the Commissioner’s Cup that went seven games a few months ago, resume what is shaping up as storied rivalry when they clash in the other semifinal series of the PBA Philippine Cup Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Texters have a score to settle against the Boosters who denied them a chance to record a rare grand slam when they clash at 6:45 p.m. in the opener of their series.

The other semifinal is being disputed by Powerade and Rain or Shine.

TNT and Petron are considered teams with balance and power and the winner of their series is expected to go all the way to win the championship.

Both squads suffered injury problems from their players with Petron losing Jay Washington (ankle injury) and Rabeh Al-Hussaini (ACL) late last season. Both forwards are doubtful to see action in the semifinals.

Dondon Hontiveros also acquired an ankle injury in his very first game back with the team.

Talk ’N Text, meanwhile, started its title-retention campaign sans Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams, who were given time to rest after their stint with the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA-Asia Championship in China.

In the course of the all-Filipino conference, they spent time in the NLEXinjured list together with several teammates.

Alapag, the reigning MVP, had ankle injury, De Ocampo hurt his hamstring, Harvey Carey sprained his ankle, Jared Dillinger dislocated his shoulder, Aaron Aban tore his ACL, Ali Peek sustained a gunshot and Williams recently had surgery to remove blood in his nose.

With the exception of Aban, who has been ruled out for the rest of the conference, all players resumed to TNT’s practice session last Monday at the Moro Lorenzo gym.

“I agree. It’s a 50-50 (chance),” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “Game fitness of Jimmy, Ranidel and Ali are questionable.”

Armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, the Tropang Texters ousted Barako Bull, 81-79, in the quarters playoff.

“Health and conditioning will definitely be factors, but so will hunger and execution,” Reyes added.

That hunger and motivation refers to getting to the Finals and earn an opportunity to repeat as champions after winning the prestigious all-Filipino title against Petron, formerly San Miguel Beer during coach Ato Agustin’s first season with the team.

After the Texters won the Commissioner’s Cup, Agustin and Petron got their revenge on TNT when they foiled its bid for a ‘‘Grand Slam’’ in a gruelling seven-game series.

Talk ’N Text won twice over Petron during the elimination round this conference, but Agustin said they’ve prepared hard for the series, particularly for Game 1 which he said will not just give a team a 1-0 lead but will set the tone.

“In any series, especially in a seven-game series, winning Game 1 is very important,” said Agustin, whose team swept Meralco (2-0) in the best-of-three playoff.

“Our focus for now is winning the first game. We’re taking it one game at a time. We’re confident because we prepared very hard, we did our homework during the break. We just have to execute our game and stick to the plan,” added Agustin.

It’s going to be an interesting matchup anew at the backcourt as a healthy Alapag will team-up with Jason Castro and go up against the pair of defensive-minded Petron backcourt tandem of Alex Cabagnot and Denok Miranda.

Other players expected to play solid for TNT are Larry Fonacier, Ryan Reyes and Japeth Aguilar, while Petron will have Arwind Santos, the leading Best Player of the Conference contender, rookie Chris Lutz, Joseph Yeo, Rob Reyes and former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso.