The teams are halfway through their goal of reaching the Big Dance, and it is now a matter of who blinks first as both the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals head into Game 5 later at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the rejigged Meralco Bolts avoided falling into a precarious position by pulling through with crucial Game 4 wins last Wednesday under the same Big Dome lights, reducing their respective series to a virtual best-of-3.
It is back to square one for the remaining teams. Coming out triumphant in tonight’s bouts will not just mean regaining the lead, but also moving a step closer to a championship round berth next week.
Action begins at 5:15 PM, with the Bolts hoping to sustain their newfound rhythm with new reinforcement Patrick Gardner in a bid to put TNT Tropang 5G on the ropes — just as they did the last time out in their 101-90 escape.
After bowing to a late Roger Pogoy three back in Game 3, it was their turn to strike the dagger in Game 4. CJ Cansino buried the killer four to pour cold water on their sister team’s comeback attempt from down 11.
That clutch hit preserved the efforts of Gardner, whose assertiveness on offense — something the team wanted to see more of compared to previous import Marvin Jones — helped the crew erect a 91-80 lead early in the fourth.
But Meralco knows that taking a 3-2 lead will not be easy, with the defending champions eager to get back at them, especially now that Chris McCullough has gotten more reps with his new team.
The former San Miguel import made his debut back in Game 4. Although he shot just 7-of-22 from the floor, including 0-of-5 from three-point range, he still finished with solid numbers of 24 points and nine rebounds.
It will be interesting to see if he has fully shaken off the rust, and whether the Tropang 5G have adjusted better to Bol Bol’s replacement.
According to the Casino Plus sportsbook, TNT are the favorites to win the match, with the handicap set at -1.5 and the total points line at 186.5.
Wagers for both games can be placed here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
(C) PBA Images
Battling it out at 7:30 PM are the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, in a series that has grown even more intense — not only within the four lines of the court.
Game 4 of this series also made headlines for the word war between Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao and Kings team governor and SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua, which began early in the series and spilled all the way to the end.
Guiao said he was called “ulol” by Chua after telling him to refrain from talking to referees, which he said intimidates officials.
Chua, who also serves as the PBA’s vice chairman, responded by telling his former BCAP colleague through the press to focus on his own team.
It is shaping up to be an intriguing nightcap between the two squads, with Rain or Shine keen on putting together another consistent showing after their 97-85 win that tied the series.
They did it even with Jaylen Johnson in foul trouble, too. Christian Manaytay and Joshua David stepped up as spark plugs alongside the main core of Gian Mamuyac, Jhonard Clarito, and Adrian Nocum.
On the other hand, it was the veteran stars who carried the fight for the opposing side, led by Justin Brownlee and former MVP Scottie Thompson. The team tried to pick up the slack on a night RJ Abarrientos managed only eight points.
Abarrientos shot just 3-of-8 from the field, reflecting the team’s broader struggles as they missed 18 three-point attempts and made only five of 23 from deep overall.
Guiao, however, does not believe Ginebra’s shooting woes will continue, as he and his squad brace for a strong retaliation from their rivals.
The Casino Plus sportsbook also does not favor them, with the handicap set at +3.5, meaning the Kings are still the favorites to emerge victorious.
