- San Miguel, Ginebra, TNT and Rain or Shine all shoot for a headstart in their respective semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup.
- The Beermen take on the crowd favorites Barangay Ginebra while Rain or Shine faces Grand Slam-seeking Tropang 5G in the other match up.
June 25, Wednesday – Mall of Asia Arena
- 5pm – TNT Tropang 5G vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
- 7:30pm – San Miguel Beermen vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings
The Painters (in red) and the Tropang 5G engaged in a tight elimination round game won narrowly by TNT, 111-103. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Getting past a higher-ranked foe in the quarterfinals seems to have alleviated whatever pressure TNT dealt with as the Tropang 5G now enter the new phase of its bid to complete a historic Grand Slam.
“There’s some relief that we were able to get to the Final Four,” coach Chot Reyes said as the Tropang 5G begin their best-of-seven semifinal face-off with the resilient Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Wednesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The two teams open their fourth straight playoff clash at 5 p.m., and there’s no doubt that there will be less pressure here at the start for Reyes and his gang compared to the series they were in against the Magnolia Hotshots, whom they needed to beat two straight times to get here.
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings coach TIm Cone during a PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals game against Converge FiberXers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone is embracing the task of facing sister team San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals after arranging that matchup with the quarterfinal conquest of Converge on Friday.
The Gin Kings and the Beermen are set for a best-of-seven showdown starting Wednesday and Cone described it as something his team would have to face regardless of their quest to win the prestigious conference.
“If you’re gonna win an all-Filipino, you have to go through San Miguel at some point,” Cone said after the 88-80 win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Jhonard Clarito (center) typifies the grit of Rain or Shine by battling it out against two Road Warriors. —PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Rain or Shine once again takes pride in being the lone independent team standing in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs, as the Elasto Painters remain armed with the chance of spoiling the ongoing championship stranglehold of those under the banner of San Miguel Corporation and MVP Group.
Coach Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters are again set to face the TNT Tropang 5G in the semifinals, hoping that the third time’s the charm behind a brand of play that now has a marketable name.
“We just have to play our game or our brand of game which we call ‘Buwis-buhay basketball,’” Guiao said.
Kelly Williams reversed the role from a heartbreaking championship defeat more than a decade ago and eventually kept TNT’s Grand Slam hopes alive and well.
This time, Williams sank two pressure-packed free throws that enabled the Tropang 5G to survive the Magnolia Hotshots, 80-79, on Saturday to secure a trip to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
“First of all, mine was really a foul,” Williams told The Inquirer after the thrilling quarterfinal rubber match amid the heavy downpour outside Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Williams was referring to getting fouled by Ian Sangalang with two seconds left as he was going for a tip following Jordan Heading’s four-point attempt off the inbound. A 56-percent free-throw shooter, the veteran converted both to put TNT back in front.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao during a PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals game against NLEX Road Warriors. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Coach Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine are hoping that their time finally comes as they set to face TNT for a third consecutive semifinal series.
The Elasto Painters arranged a best-of-seven duel with the Tropang 5G by way of defeating the NLEX Road Warriors twice in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals, and Guiao will lean on his wards to put their best effort in their latest bid to get one over the Grand Slam-seeking squad.
“Our motto is just show up, be there and maybe one of these days, you can get to the next level,” Guiao said after Saturday’s 103-92 win at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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