TNT and NLEX, both off to a strong start in their redemption drives from poor showing last conference, fight for win No. 3 as they slug it out in the PBA Governors' Cup at the PhilSports Arena Wednesday.
They clash at 5:45 p.m. with the victor not just preserving a clean slate but also sharing pole spot with the Converge FiberXers at 3-0.
Both are eager to get going, especially the Road Warriors who are bent on squeezing the most they can in a brief engagement with prized import Jonathon Simmons.
Committed to play just four games with NLEX before having to fly back to China, Simmons has been true to his words to lead the Road Warriors to a good start.
"That's the deal, that's what we agreed upon," said the fancied import.
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Simmons and company pummeled the Blackwater Elite, 124-102, on Jan. 25 then repulsed the NorthPort Batang Pier, 121-112, three days later.
But it's not just Simmons.
"We're a tough team right now. I can see a lot of toughness from our players and that's a good sign," said NLEX coach Frankie Lim.
Against NorthPort, Simmons banged away 33 points, with Don Trollano contributing 23, Kevin Alas 18, Sean Anthony 16 and Brandon Rosser 12.
But now comes the TNT side that could well give Simmons and his teammates a tough, tough test.
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The Tropang Giga are off to a roaring start under coach Jojo Lastimosa, drubbing Phoenix Super LPG, 123-119, in their conference debut then overcoming a tough adversity with a winning fightback from a big deficit against Rain or Shine, 105-100.
Lastimosa and his troops passed a test of character against the E-Painters.
"That was one of those games where you can measure our toughness in terms of how we came back and how we defended even though we're gassed out. So that was really a good test for us," said Lastimosa.
At the forefront of TNT's 2-0 roll are import Jalen Hudson, RR Pogoy and Mikee Williams.
The triumvirate anchored their 44-point explosion in the third quarter as the Tropang Giga erased an early 18-point deficit and went on to score a five-point triumph in their last outing. (SB)
