Tropang 5G battle Gin Kings in early clash of titans at PBA 50th season – BusinessWorld Online
Games on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs Ginebra
FIERCE rivals TNT and Barangay Ginebra are back at it on Wednesday in the highlight matchup of the sixth playdate of the PBA’s 50th season at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G (1-0) and the Gin Kings (0-1) engage in an early clash of titans in the Philippine Cup at 7:30 p.m., reigniting the rivalry that lit up the past season with title confrontations in the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup that produced some of the fiercest, most unforgettable games.
The protagonists have taken different routes in the young season, with TNT hurdling its initial business against Phoenix last Friday, 93-78, and Ginebra bowing to Magnolia, 73-80, in the Oct. 5 opening tiff.
For coach Chot Reyes and his Tropang 5G, the aim is to set the tone right from the get-go.
Coach Tim Cone and his crew wouldn’t want to fall to a 0-2 hole, especially with games against Meralco, defending champion San Miguel and NLEX on the horizon.
“We got a tough schedule to start this conference, five games against MVP and San Miguel teams. So we have to pick it up,” Mr. Cone said after yielding to Magnolia in LA Tenorio’s coaching debut.
“We can’t play like this and expect to have a good record against those five teams, especially now starting 0-1,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Bolts (0-2) push for an end to their early stumble in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser against a Blackwater squad (1-0) that’s on the prowl for an upset and early hold of pole position. — Olmin Leyba