The PBA Playoffs go out-of-town as top seeds TNT and Rain or Shine try to go for a commanding 2-0 lead in the quarterfinals of the Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna on Friday, Sept. 27.

After drawing first blood in their respective series openers, the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Giga are bracing for a fightback from their opponents who are surely determined to pull all the stops and prevent them from moving on cusp of semifinal appearances.

Rain or Shine faces Magnolia first in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m. before the clash between TNT and NLEX follows in the 7:30 p.m. nightcap that is expected to attract a huge crowd.

Although the Elasto Painters pulled through with a 109-105 victory over the Hotshots in Game 1, the work leaves much to be desired for head coach Yeng Guiao after losing grip of the lead in the final frame behind the hot outside shooting of Magnolia.

Good thing, Rain or Shine managed to pull off the much-needed stops in the waning minutes to fuel an 18-4 finishing kick. Still, Guiao reminded his wards that they cannot play with fire and allow Magnolia to just comfortably take their outside shots.

“Part of the game plan siguro is to be able to lessen their efficiency mataas masyado yung 50-percent shooting sa four sabi ko nga fantastic masyado yon,” said Guiao.

“We''l try to lessen that because we know they will take a lot more four-point shots not just three point shots and parang specialty na ni Jerrick (Ahanmisi) so you need to pay special attention to that,” he added.

Aaron Fuller held the fort with 26 points and 20 rebounds for the Elasto Painters who, unlike the Hotshots, shot a poor 5-of-26 clip from deep.

Like Guiao, TNT head coach Chot Reyes is also wary of NLEX despite coming out with a 107-102 win in Game 1.

The Tropang Giga mentor, while pleased with their defensive effort on Robert Bolick and import DeQuan Jones, preached to his charges to make no letup knowing full well how the Road Warriors can easily score in bunches.

TNT limited Bolick to just 10 points while Jones had his way with 38. 

"I'm sure coach Jong (Uichico) will make some adjustments, and it's incumbent upon us to anticipate and prepare something else for the next,” said Reyes.

“The best thing we can do is make it hard for him. As long as he exerts effort to try to score, and exerts effort to defend, that works for us," he added.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson starred for TNT with conference-high 45 points while also getting ample contributions from the likes of Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Rey Nambatac and Jayson Castro.