TNT and Barangay Ginebra face contrasting situations when it comes to the health and fitness of their players but their goals remain all the same – take a commanding lead in the PBA Season 49 Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 2.

The Tropang Giga will have to find a way to live without veteran guard Jayson Castro when they face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for a huge 3-0 lead in the first offering at 5 p.m. 

In contrast, the Kings are reaching their peak with some of their weapons finally getting back to form just in time for their goal to also move a win away from making a Finals return when they clash against the NorthPort Batang Pier at 7:30 p.m.

TNT, however, will have a huge void to fill in with Castro out with a season-ending knee injury which he sustained during the Tropang Giga’s 93-91 escape against the Elasto Painters in Game 2.

And without the battle-scarred playmaker, who provides the stabilizing presence for TNT, head coach Chot Reyes is expecting things to get even more tougher after the two close victories.

“This could have been easily 2-0 the other way. That’s how close the series is. We don’t feel we are up 2-0 at all and our approach for the next game is as if we do not have that kind of advantage,” said Reyes.

Without Castro, Rey Nambatac will have to step up manning the point for TNT while Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy should provide the firepower needed to help Rondae Hollis-Jefferson especially against ROS, which even with the loss, should still feel good about themselves after dragging the heavy favorites to two nip-and-tuck affairs.

The situation is the exact opposite for Ginebra.

Already looking good with two blowout victories to take the 2-0 lead, head coach Tim Cone is welcoming back the return to form of some of his players who are coming long layoffs due to injuries.

Jamie Malonzo had his best game since his return with 17 points in the masterful 119-106 win over NorthPort while Jeremiah Gray also looked good with six points in just nine minutes of play.

Their addition significantly boosted an already potent Ginebra lineup which also has Stephen Holt, Troy Rosario, and RJ Abarrientos on top of the mainstays Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Justin Brownlee.

And that's a ton of weapons aimed at NorthPort all at once as the top seed tries to regain its form with Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon and import Kadeem Jack still finding their footing in the best-of-seven affair.