"UNDERDOG" is a tag both TNT and Rain or Shine are all too willing to pin on themselves when they collide in their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals duel that starts Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For the Tropang Giga and Elasto Painters, their preparations the last couple of weeks are crucial in their bid to approach the duel with the proper mindset, get off to a fine start and take at least the opener of the best-of-seven series.
"Tinalo nga kami niyan last time," TNT coach Chot Reyes reminded everyone, referring to the 10-point loss his Tropa absorbed from the E-Painters in a Jan 31 match ending their elimination round campaign.
"Because of history, past performance siguro kaya some may look at us as the favorites here. Pero playoffs ito, best-of-seven. Ang tawag nga nila dito, the second season, di ba?" added Reyes. "All of the previous games, performances against them, they don't mean much. We don't look at ourselves as the favorites here."
Rain or Shine's Yeng Guiao, however, counters with his own reminder of how TNT needed just five games to beat his side in the last Governors' Cup Final Four and now enters this series as the second seed. "Kaya kung lyamadista ka, siyempre pipiliiin mo TNT dito," he stated.
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If there's one thing the two grizzled tacticians can agree on, certain things have changed since their last series. "I think we're more ready this time," shared Guiao.
"'Yung experience namin dati na sila rin kalaban namin, that gives us more wisdom, a better perspective, on how to prepare against them."
"They're very different (from the last conference), they're a lot more mature, iba na rin import nila," noted Reyes. "And nu'ng Governors' Cup wala noon si (Caelan) Tiongson. Ang laking bagay sa kanila si Tiongson, a very big contributor talaga."
Indeed, Tiongson has shown little ill effects of the calf injury that sidelined him during the last Govs' Cup playoffs and has re-assumed his role as Rain or Shine's primary import-stopper while also contributing on offense.
Even Guiao has to agree that Tiongson should play a crucial role. Ditto for Deon Thompson. "Plus-factor sa amin iyon, healthy si Caelan," said the coach. "Isa pa we have a bigger import. Itong si Deon has better range and he's bigger. His skills set can also create matchup problems doon sa kabila, siguro better designed to play against TNT."
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Adding to Reyes' concern is the uncertain status of top gunner Calvin Oftana, who has not practiced with TNT due to his Gilas Pilipinas duties that ended only last Sunday.
"Buong preparations namin butas na butas kami sa posisyon na iyon. Hopefully, makakapag-practice na siya (by Tuesday) pero magpapahinga pa iyon so that's really a cause of concern for us," said Reyes.
"So sasandalan namin dito is depensa, how we can minimize their scoring efficiency," Reyes also said. "Dati kasi 'yung Rain or Shine pag hininto mo fastbreak nila okay na. But now they have developed a second part, na kunyari 'pag wala silang fastbreak they get into their halfcourt offense na ang taas ng percentage nila.
So iyun ang pinaka -importante sa amin. The key for us, defensively, how can we lower their field goal percentages, both sa 2 points and 3 points." (NC)
