PRE-tournament favorites which are off to rocky starts try to snap out of their rut when TNT and Magnolia collide Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang Giga, who copped the Governors' Cup title only early last month, have yet to win after two starts while the Hotshots, 14-time champions since their Purefoods days and are perennial contenders, have lost the last two of their first three games.
Now both teams are anxious to get fully untracked and from there continue winning to gain inclusion among the eight teams advancing to the next round following the 12-game eliminations.
"It's too early to panic, but we need to have a sense of urgency," said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero on the eve of the match while predicting a long rough night for the combatants.
"Parehas kami ng sit'wasyon. It's gonna be a defensive battle. Ganu'n din kasi tema ng sistema nila, depensa. Plus the fact na may sense of urgency na rin iyon (TNT)," added Victolero.
Sponsored content: "Magiging grinding game, kumbaga hanggang dulo, kasi nga both teams kailangan ng panalo."
Indeed, coach Chot Reyes has stated that the work is cut out for his Tropa, especially after committing a total 21 turnovers that caused them to drop a 95-100 decision to NorthPort last Sunday.
"We just couldn't close it out," rued Reyes following the Batang Pier match. "Obviously, there's so much for us to work on and figure out if we're going to be competitive this tournament."
Good news for TNT is the return of Poy Erram from the one-game suspension he served out following an F2 he committed early in the team's 84-105 loss to Eastern Friday last week.
The return of Erram should add more than height and savvy for a Tropa side that is already without the injured Kelly Williams and fellow veteran Jayson Castro, on the final day of his mandated rest period following his strenuous efforts in the Governors' Cup.
Sponsored content: Magnolia would continue to be without Paul Lee, who sat out a 103-107 loss to NorthPort last Wednesday after suffering a rib contusion during a 91-93 decision to Converge.
Ricrado Ratliffe, however, has been deemed to be recovered enough from the right shoulder injury he suffered in the course of the FiberXers game and limited him to just 10 points, on 4-of-12 field shooting against the Batang Pier.
"Talagang may nararamdaman lang siya doon sa right shoulder niya. Hindi niya maiangat ng husto. Nahatak kasi braso niya so parang naging tight. Actually, sabi nga ng mga PTs namin mga 40-50 percent lang arm niya," related Victolero.
"Pero itong one-week break namin naging maganda naman. Unti-unti naayos naman." (NC)
