FOES who are so familiar with each other start playing for big stakes once more when TNT and Rain or Shine square off Wednesday in a match kicking off the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals duels at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Both the Tropang 5G and the Elasto Painters want to get off on the right foot in the best-of-seven series and from there stay on track for their respective quests in the season-ending tournament.
Understandably, TNT is the favorite as it has already used Rain or Shine as stepping stone in its route for a rare season Grand Slam, winning their two previous semis meetings in the season-opening Governors Cup and the last Commissioner's Cup via 4-1 counts.
As in their two previous Final Four stints for the season and in this, their fourth straight semis appearance, the E-Painters are looking to finally hurdle that barrier and make the Finals for only the first time since their 2016 Commissioner's Cup title conquest.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said his team is willing to go all out and work its tail off like what it did in overcoming a twice-to-win handicap against NLEX in their quarterfinals.
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"We just play our brand of game. If things are not working out just make the best effort. That's what we did tonight," offered Guiao following a semis seat-clinching 103-92 win over the Road Warriors last Saturday.
"'Yun ang motto namin, just show up, be there. One of these days, maybe you'll get to the next level. So andito lang kami, susubukan lang namin kung ano kaya namin," added Guiao.
"TNT, champion team going for a Grand Slam. But andiyan kami, lalabanan namin sila. Tingnan natin kung hanggang saan 'yung aabutin namin."
The Tropa also had to grind it out in its own matchup against Magnolia in the quarterfinals, pulling off a pair of one-point thrillers that kept them on track for a title sweep of the season's three conferences.
Making TNT's passage to the semis is the fact it managed to do so despite some manpower problems in its backcourt that saw Brian Heruela following Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac to the sidelines due to injury.
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Even Jordan Heading (bad back) saw limited minutes and Simon Enciso cramping up in the course of an 80-79 squeaker over Magnolia also last Saturday. Good thing the likes of Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Kelly Williams and even Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser came through for TNT.
Heading and Heruela remain gametime decisions, but coach Chot Reyes, not knowing yet Rain or Shine would be their next opponent, has said his Tropa's mentality remains "next man up"
"Whoever we play here (semis) they're all going to be very hungry," said Reyes. "They're not going to give up so we have to be ready. There's no other way. Hahanapan na lang namin ng paraan and whoever is healthy we'll go with them."(NC)
