FOR Group A pacesetter TNT, it's about building momentum going into next week's PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
For NorthPort, it's about going out with a bang.
With these as the driving force, the playoffs-bound Tropang Giga and the eliminated Batang Pier square off to wrap up their respective elims slates Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Though already untouched at Group A's No. 1 position no matter what, defending champion TNT (7-2) would rather get that W in the 5 p.m. setto serving as a curtain-raiser for the penultimate day of the double round-robin group preliminaries.
After all, the proud Tropang Giga just got handed a 72-84 upset by erstwhile winless Terrafirma last time and there's a need to wash the bitter aftertaste away with a quick bounceback before they head to the crossover quarters versus the fourth-ranked squad of Group B.
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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is expected to impose his will against a NorthPort crew (3-5) that's waging battle in the elims windup with an all-Filipino crew The Batang Pier lost the hard-working Venky Jois to an Achilles injury that forced him out of action for the remainder of the Season 49-opening conference.
Friday night, the Batang Pier's locals led by Arvin Tolentino picked up the cudgels but ultimately fell short against import-less but talent-laden Magnolia, 94-110, to miss out on the playoffs with a game to spare.
And now, in their last hurrah, Tolentino and Co. look to make the most of their chance for a graceful exit at the expense of a big fish in Hollis-Jefferson and TNT's powerhouse Filipino aces of RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams, who are out for redemption after the team's sluggish performance against the Dyip. (OL)
