After getting its redemption bid back on track, TNT guns for its second win when it collides against Rain or Shine in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday Oct. 15.
The Tropang Giga, who are looking to redeem themselves from a painful Philippine Cup Finals loss, eye their first win streak of the conference against the Elasto Painters in the 6:45 p.m collision.
Meralco is also in search of its win No. 2 after opening the conference with two straight losses against Converge which, on the other hand, is hoping to bounce back from the loss to Bay Area in the first offering at 4:30 p.m.
Jayson Castro, who was recently signed to a fresh three-year deal by the Tropang Giga, could make his conference debut against the Elasto Painters although he remains to be a game-time decision.
With Castro on the sidelines, TNT split its first two games with RR Pogoy providing his team a huge lift in its first win against NorthPort, scoring 26 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting from the field in the first half. Mikey Williams, after missing TNT’s first game, also returned to the lineup with a bang while Cameron Oliver was a picture of consistency for the Tropang Giga in his first two games.
A curious storyline, however, involves TNT’s offseason acquisition Calvin Oftana who will be facing up against his former head coach and current Rain or Shine mentor Yeng Guiao.
Guiao was the one who drafted Oftana third overall in the 2020 draft before he was sent to TNT as part of the package centered on him, Troy Rosario and Brandon Ganuelas Rosser. Incidentally, the trade came just a couple of weeks after the Road Warriors let go of Guiao to Rain or Shine.
At his return to the Elasto Painters, Guiao weaved his magic anew and had Rain or Shine pulling off some of the early surprises in the conference especially with the young core of Rey Nambatac, Anton Asistio, Andrei Caracut, Gian Mamuyac and Santi Santillan.
The crew, however, fell short against the veteran laden San Miguel, 113-105. The young Elasto Painters crew actually kept in step with the powerhouse squad until in the final five minutes of the final frame when SMB pounced on the ejection of burly big man Beau Belga to repel Rain or Shine.