TWO teams on hot streaks push their drives as Rain or Shine and TNT Tropang 5G collide in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center Antipolo on Wednesday.
Except for Rey Nambatac possibly joining Jayson Castro in the sideline, the ROS-TNT faceoff is expected to be an explosive, livewire matchup, with each side coming off victories fueled by hot shooting.
With a remarkable 16-of-32 clip from the three-point area, the Tropang Giga disposed of the Meralco Bolts, 101-84, last May 11 while the Elasto Painters also dropped an avalanche of treys - 15-of-31 - in their 119-105 conquest of the previously unbeaten Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday.
And it's a collision of two great forces as the Tropang 5G and the E-Painters slug it out at 7:30 p.m., both looking to boost their bids past the halfway mark of the single-round-robin eliminations.
Coach Yeng Guiao's troops eye a third straight win and a share of third place with the San Miguel Beermen at 5-2 while coach Chot Reyes' wards try to make it four in a row and forge a deadlock with the E-Painters at 4-3.
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But while the E-Painters are back at full strength on the return from injuries of Beau Belga, Caelan Tiongson and Keith Datu, the Tropang 5G are dealing with health woes, including the one suffered by Nambatac in their last outing.
"Rey is a huge part of our team, he does so many things for us. (His sidelining) is another challenge for us moving forward," said Reyes of the 6-foot-1 guard who is tipped to be out for four to six weeks after sustaining a pulled groin.
Needing to step up in the absence of Nambatac are Simon Enciso and Brian Heruela.
Before the injury, Nambatac was playing great guns with Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy, each one providing firepower in their hot streak versus San Miguel Beer, Terrafirma and Meralco. It was a turnaround from a 0-3 start while TNT was weighed down by championship hangover.
But now comes the Elasto Painters bristling with their own run.
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And the E-Painters are smart enough to be complacent while facing a depleted but still dangerous TNT squad.
"We still have to be ready," said Guiao.(SB)
