UNDERMANNED TNT tries to bounce back from a sorry loss the last time out when it battles Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The Dyip are out to arrest an alarming three-game losing streak and the Tropang 5G are still smarting from a humiliating 103-87 beating from the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.
Terrafirma’s three losses, however, were near wins as it bowed to NLEX by just one point, dropped a narrow two-point decision to Converge, and just recently, lost to powerhouse San Miguel Beer by five points.
The close calls make the Dyip a dangerous foe for the Tropang 5G, the defending champions, who will continue to miss the services of veterans Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Poy Erram.
Evergreen big man Kelly Williams missed the team’s first two games after attending to some personal matters in the United States and is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Meanwhile, Titan Ultra tries to build on its 16-point victory over TNT when it battles winless Macau.
Entering the game with an anemic 1-3 card, the Giant Risers hopes to create a winning streak since snapping their out of a 0-3 start and a total 10-game skid dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It’s so hard to lose three straight (to start the conference),” Titan Ultra coach Renzy Bajar said in Filipino.
“How you motivate the players, how you motivate the team. But... I told them just to enjoy the game, don’t think about winning right away. We will just treat this game right quarter by quarter, every minute, possession by possession. And perhaps that will give us the chance to win,” he added.
Import Tirell Brown seems to be right fit for Titan Ultra and Bajar likes the leadership and energy the American brings to the team.
“He’s very vocal to the players, (reminding them) to just keep on playing defense,” said Bajar of Brown.
Brown tallied 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win against TNT.
“It was very important... for me, personally, just to prove to everybody that I belong here, whatever, and also for the team. They were looking for a first win and I’m happy that I could help get them a first win,” said the 33-year-old Brown.
