IT'S still wrapping up the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup eliminations campaign but streaking TNT is already on playoffs mode.
So expect the Tropang Giga (7-1) to go full blast when they face struggling Terrafirma (0-8) in their Group A return match Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The defending champions hit the court at 5 p.m. - barely 43 hours after hurdling the tough challenge of Magnolia, 84-82, and stretching their streak to a fifth game.
Odds are heavily in favor of TNT, the hottest team of the tournament and owner of a 107-89 crushing of the winless Dyip in the first round, to sustain its hot charge and bolster its bid for top seeding in the quarterfinals.
But coach Chot Reyes and his troops won't look past their next opponents, who are out for a breakthrough win and upset before ultimately bowing out of the playoffs.
Sponsored content:
"The biggest lesson is you can't look too far ahead," said Reyes.
"We always talk about having an objective but focusing on the goal. So we have an objective but we are keeping our mind and our attention on the goal. Right now, the goal is the next game, which is Terrafirma."
The Dyip will come into the match with added fire after close calls in their last two games against Hotshots (98-99) and Converge (99-100). And the third time could be a charm for Coach Johnedel Cardel's charges.
As for TNT, the 50-50 game against Magnolia two nights before brought forth what's still lacking in its arsenal.
"First of all, we gotta make our free throws. The game could have been a lot more comfortable for us if we had made the majority of our free throws," said Reyes, referring to the Tropang Giga's 21 of 32 performance on the stripe.
Sponsored content:
"Number two, teams are really shutting down and defending us very well. So, it's incumbent upon us to counter that. We have to make sure that our ffensive game gets to a better and a higher level.
"But overall you know these are the kind of games that we're going to face in the playoffs so ah I thought this (Magnolia game) was a really good preparation for us," added Reyes. (OL)
