Naka-una ang TNT at Rain Or Shine sa panimula ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven semifinal sa Ynares Center Antipolo nitong Myerkules.
Buong laro mainit ang import na si Bol Manute Bol upang pangunahan ang TNT kontra Meralco, 94-89.
Sa bandang huli naman humarurot ang ROS para lusutan ang Barangay Ginebra, 115-111, at binigo ang karamihan sa 11,021 fans na kampi sa Gin Kings.
Ang Game 2 ay nakatakda sa Biyernes sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
Si Bol ay umiskor ng 37 puntos, 11 rebounds at personal conference-high na walong assists.
Nag-ambag naman si Roger Pogoy ng 21 puntos at siyam na rebounds.
Pinuri ni TNT coach Chot Reyes ang Tropang 5G.
“The foundation of our game plan is not to allow Meralco to outwork us and to win the efforts stats. So, diving on the floor for the loose ball, deflections, setting good screens – all the little things Meralco is good at,” ani Reyes.
“I thought if we are able to match their energy and their effort then we’ll give ourselves a good chance to win and I think in the end our defense held strong,” dagdag pa ni Reyes.
Sa ikalawang laro, sinunod ng Elasto Painters ang simpleng bilin ni coach Yeng Guiao: Lumaban at makipagsabayan.
“It’s tough to play Ginebra. I have great respect for their team. They have the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) import, the GOAT coach, half of Gilas, the possible MVP … at sino ba naman kami,” ani Guiao, na tinutukoy sina import Justin Brownlee at coach Tim Cone.
“Tignan natin kung hanggang saan kami makakarating,” dagdag ni Guiao.
Tinapos ng Rain or Shine ang dikit na laro sa pamamagitan ng 11-0 run sa huling bahagi ng laro.
Sina import Jaylen Johnson, Jhonard Clarito, Adrian Nocum at Gian Mamuyac ang nanguna sa pagbura sa 107-102 kalamangan ng Ginebra.
Nagtapos si Johnson ng PBA-high na 40 puntos, kasama ang 19 rebounds, tatlong assists at dalawang steals.
The scores:
First Game
TNT 94 – Bol 37, Pogoy 21, Heading 16, Oftana 14, Nambatac 3, Williams 2, Castro 1, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Quitevis 0, Aurin 0, Galinato 0, Khobuntin 0.
MERALCO 89 – Jones 22, Quinto 17, Cansino 12, Newsome 11, Brickman 8, Hodge 8, Rios 5, Banchero 4, Bates 2, Black 0, Mocon 0.
Quarters: 28-21; 53-49; 69-all; 94-89
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 115 – Johnson 40, Clarito 25, Mamuyac 18, Nocum 16, Malonzo 12, Caracut 2, Manaytay 2, Santillan 0, Asistio 0, Villegas 0.
GINEBRA 111 – Brownlee 32, Abarrientos 21, Thompson 17, Pinto 13, Gray 8, Holt 7, Rosario 7, J. Aguilar 4, Cu 2, Torres 0
Quarters: 26-17; 42-49; 74-77; 115-111