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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Meralco locks horn with TNT; Terrafirma, Ginebra eye bounce back win

Meralco locks horn with TNT; Terrafirma, Ginebra eye bounce back win

Published Apr 7, 2024 06:48 am

At A Glance

  • Streaking Meralco locks horns with slumping sister team TNT while Terrafirma and Ginebra battle to get back on the winning track in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Sunday, April 7.

Streaking Meralco locks horns with slumping sister team TNT while Terrafirma and Ginebra collide to get back on the winning track in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Sunday, April 7.

PBA Images10 (44).jpg
 

The Bolts hope to extend their winning run to three against a Tropang Giga side struggling to keep up with the rest of the field in the opening game at 3 p.m.

The nightcap then features a clash between the Kings and the Dyip – two teams raring to bounce back from respective close losses in the 6:15 p.m. affair.

Riding the crest of its back-to-back wins, highlighted by a grindout 86-86 win over Terrafirma in its last assignment, Meralco is hoping to break through the 0.5 mark with its 3-3 record and move further up the standings entering the second half of its elimination schedule.

Although on a streak, things haven't been pretty for the Bolts with top guns Allein Maliksi, Aaron Black and Chris Newsome misfiring from the field. Good thing, their defense continued to hold up and guys like Bong Quinto, Norbert Torres and Raymond Almazan all provided solid contributions for the team.

In contrast, the Tropang Giga have been getting big games from its stars but just couldn’t get over the hump after absorbing their second straight defeat in the 112-96 blowout loss to the surprising NorthPort Batang Pier.

If there’s anything TNT can take away from the struggles, it should be the splendid showing of RR Pogoy who exploded for 34 points spiked by seven triples.

Rookie Kim Aurin emerged as the team’s second best offensive threat with 18 points, suggesting the need for Tropang Giga’s more established stars in Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Calvin Oftana and even veteran Jayson Castro to step up for the team.

Also hoping to avoid falling into a two-game slide are Ginebra and Terrafirma in the second game.

The Kings face a short turnaround after a close 95-92 loss to the still undefeated San Miguel Beermen just last Friday. 

Ginebra, 3-2, continues to deal with the absence of star guard Scottie Thompson – a void guys like Maverick Ahanmisi, Stanley Pringle and veteran LA Tenorio need to fill especially against a potent backcourt of the Dyip.

Although sitting at a 3-3 record, Juami Tiongson and Stephen Holt have provided Terrafirma a formidable one-two punch.

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