Action in the 2024 PBA Governors Cup hits fever pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 9, when league titans TNT and Barangay Ginebra clash with separate rivals at the start of their gruelling best-of-seven semifinal series at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Tropang Giga square off with the young but determined Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 7:30 p.m. nightcap after the Kings collide with the dangerous San Miguel Beermen at 5 p.m.

While spotlight is on TNT and Ginebra, two teams who figured in last year’s finals where the Tropang Giga prevailed, expect Rain or Shine and San Miguel to give their fancied foes a run for their own money.

In fact, there was no time to rest for the Elasto Painters and the Beermen after coming off sudden-death quarterfinals matches over the weekend against the Magnolia Hotshots and the Converge Fiberxers.

However, it was all back to square one as far as SMB coach Jorge Gallent was concerned. Never mind if they won by 49 points, 131-82, against the Kings in their last matchup on Sept. 15, or lost by only six, 108-102, in their first meeting last Aug. 27.

“It’s a thing in the past, yung 49 points na yon na nanalo kami at six points na natalo kami,” said Gallent.

“Wala na yon. This is back to zero for us. The best thing about it now is we start zero-zero and we will prepare for Ginebra,” he added.

Gallent hopes his stalwarts will provide the same intensity they showed in their 109-105 Game 5 triumph over Converge that earned them a semis ticket, and casts his eyes anew on many-time MVP winner June Mar Fajardo to anchor the crew.

Fajardo displayed his tenacity on all fronts and exploded with conference-high 40 points and 24 rebounds the last time.

But the team’s strength will be put to test as they are facing an equally formidable Ginebra crew, which was coming off a respite from sweeping Meralco, 3-0, in the quarters and boasts of a frontline that has Japeth Aguilar and Justine Brownlee.

Like SMB, Rain or Shine Yeng Guiao expects another tough hill to climb as they go up against TNT.

The Elasto Painters failed to make it to the quarters last year, finishing with only two wins against nine losses in the elims, but Guiao is confident of the growth he’d seen in his players particularly in their 113-103 Game 5 win over Magnolia that secured them a semis berth.

“Anlaki ng tinurong leksyon samin ng Magnolia,” said Guiao, adding that they are taking these lessons in their series against TNT.

“We’re a young team and to beat magnolia in Game 5 where everything is at stake and lagi kaming tinatambakan, dun pa lang sa sitwasyon na yon, masisiraan ka na ng loob eh. Pero the guys just disregarded it, they gave it their all. They showed their fighting hearts,” said Guiao.

Aaron Fuller is expected to fuel the Elasto Painters anew after a double-double performance of 22 points and 10 rebounds the last time, while help is set to come from Andrei Caracut, Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum.

TNT, which toppled NLEX, 3-1, for a semis spot, meanwhile, has Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Rey Nambatac and RR Pogoy.