In a fierce battle between warriors, anyone is expected to jump and grab on to any bit of advantage they could get just to come out on top.

And that was pretty much also the case through the opening games of the ongoing PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup with both the well-rested Barangay Ginebra and TNT pouncing on the weary legs of their respective opponents to draw first blood.

With the short turnaround heading into Game 2 on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, both the Kings and the Tropang Giga try to take a 2-0 lead for a commanding series advantage in semifinals.

“It's really hard for them at this point to prepare and practice because they are tired and exhausted. Honestly, we're not gonna feel sorry for 'em. It's not our job to feel sorry for 'em," Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said of semis rival San Miguel.

"We're gonna take advantage of every little thing that we can and if they're gonna be tired we'd try and take advantage of that,” he added ahead of their 7:30 p.m. collision which will come after the showdown between TNT and Rain or Shine in the first offering at 5 p.m.

Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt punished the San Miguel defense which proved to be a step slower in the Ginebra’s 122-105 Game 1 win. Brownlee had 33 points built on five four-pointers while Holt finished with 30 – most came from drives and attacking the cracks on the Beermen defense.

Cone, though, is aware of how much pride and experience SMB has that he is expecting it to power through fatigue and do everything to bounce back in Game 2.

"I'm sure they're gonna be ready to beat us in Game 2. I mean, that's just the way when two really good teams battle each other. No one dominates for any length of time," offered Cone.

"They dominated us in one game and we half-dominated them tonight. At this point, it's their turn (to win in Game 2). Hopefully, we can do something to prevent that,” he added.

Like Ginebra, TNT is also sticking to what worked wonders in Game 1.

Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes has put the premium on preventing the Elasto Painters from getting their running game going – something that was evident in their 90-81 win in the series opener.

"The only way we will win this series is our defense. We have to be able to limit Rain or Shine. They are the No. 1 or No. 2 in the league in scoring but also No. 1 in field goal percentage and fastbreak points and a lot of offensive stats,” said Reyes.

“On the other hand, we are now 1 in the league in a lot of defensive stats so it’s going to be a battle of contrasts and for us to win we have to limit their production,” he added.

The effort of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson typified that tough defensive stand for TNT with his five steals and four blocks on top of his 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.