THEIR 10-game streak snapped, the TNT Tropang Giga eye quick recovery.
Recharged and reenergized, the Meralco Bolts, meanwhile, look to get going.
From a two-day breather, the two teams are expected to come out strong and go at each other with great intensity and effort as they clash in the pivotal third game of their PBA Governors' Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is at 5:45 p.m. with the vital 2-1 series lead at stake after the Tropang Giga fashioned out a lopsided 110-80 win in the series kickoff then the Bolts striking back with a 124-117 victory in overtime in Game 2 Sunday.
As in the first two games, coaches of the two teams believe will and determination would spell the difference in Game 3.
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And another slambang duel is expected with each side bent on pouring all they've got in a bid to outwork and outfight the other.
TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa said it's about beating the energy, intensity and effort of Meralco if they're to live up to their billing as the top seed and regain the series lead.
On Sunday, the Bolts outlasted the Tropang Giga in a grind-out battle, dragging the game into overtime and eventually prevailing on the gritty performances of Aaron Black, Cliff Hodge and KJ McDaniels.
"I was hoping they would come out with more energy today," said Meralco coach Norman Black. "We had a hard game against Magnolia [in the quarterfinals] before we played Game 1 and it really showed in the first game."
But the Bolts recharged, recovered and repulsed the Tropa in the next game, avoiding a 0-2 hole and instead reducing the series to a best-of-three.
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"Aaron had a big game and a lot of the other guys stepped up. KJ played much better than he did in Game 1, which probably gave us a big lift," said Black.
It's TNT's turn to recalibrate, but Lastimosa insists it's about beating the effort and energy of the Bolts. (SB)
