TNT and Rain or Shine clash in their side of the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals that can be called many names.
Titleholder versus dangerous challenger. Youth versus experience. Offense versus defense. Running game versus deliberate halfcourt game.
Not to be forgotten is it being a clash of squads emerging top finishers from their respective groups in the elimination round.
It's a face-off between elims top seeds, and it's expected to be a fierce showdown right in the opener of the best-of-seven series at the PhilSports Arena Wednesday.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. in a dispute that will also feature a clash of two master tacticians.
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"We're playing a tough team and they're the defending champions," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
"The only way we can go deeper into the playoffs is if everyone on the team really elevates their game. What got us here will not get us to where we want to be," said TNT counterpart Chot Reyes.
Adding to the excitement and intrigue is it being the first clash between the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Giga in the tourney.
Rain or Shine was the topnotcher from Group B versus San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra, NLEX, Blackwater and Phoenix Super LPG. And then the E-Painters beat the Magnolia Hotshots in the quarterfinals.
TNT, meanwhile, emerged the best club from Group A versus Meralco, Converge, Magnolia, NorthPort and Terrafirma. The Tropang Giga then rolled past the Road Warriors in the quarters.
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Though they haven't battled in the tourney yet, both know each other very well, how one operates, their strong points, their comfort zones and their weak spots.
It's no secret that the Elasto Painters make a living on their high-octane running game while the Tropang Giga beat opponents with their defense coupled with the outside shooting provided by Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac.
Aaron Fuller and his ROS teammates average 108.3 points as they're always on the attack mode while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his TNT pals allow only 89.4 points while always locked-in on their mentality to play defense.
Fuller and RHJ are a study in contrasts, too.
The ROS import is a monster on the low block while the TNT reinforcement is deadly with the ball coming from the outside, beating defenders with his crafty maneuvers.
Hollis-Jefferson, Oftana, Pogoy and Nambatac are TNT's top guns while Fuller, Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum are ROS' leading scorers but with the other E-Painters ready to step in at any given time.
And that gives the E-Painters the edge on unpredictability especially with Guiao not having a regular set of starting five. But the Tropang Giga can compensate from other fronts.
And it's only expected to be a battle.(SB)
