TNT-Meralco: Semis matchup of well-motivated combatants

Second seed Meralco and No. 3 TNT KaTropa brace for a ferocious PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal showdown between two sides equally determined to reach the summit.

Continuing their fine showing from the elims, the two franchises from the MVP Group cashed in on their winonce quarterfinal bonus against lowerranked rivals to set this matchup.

The Bolts demolished No. 7 Alaska, 94-84, then the KaTropa followed suit with a come-from-behind 98-97 victory over No. 6 Magnolia, effectively dethroning the Hotshots and making it a race for the vacant crown now.

“Meralco’s peaking right now and they’re on a roll so we have to prepare well and take care of everything,” TNT coach Bong Ravena said.

“It will be a huge challenge being matched up against the top offensive team in the conference. Our transition and perimeter defense will have to be at its best as we try to slow down the high scoring TNT team,” said Meralco mentor Norman Black.

“While it will be tough, we will just go out and play our game to win as we have been doing the whole conference,” added Black.

Two high-caliber imports highlight this explosive pairing with two-time Best Import Allen Durham bannering Meralco and former NBA player KJ McDaniels spearheading TNT. Durham is averaging 29.64 points, 14.64 rebounds, 6.27 assists and 1.0 block this conference while McDaniels is good for 37.09 markers, 7.88 boards, 4.7 feeds and one block.

Raymond Almazan, who’s enjoying a renaissance with his new team, leads a Meralco local crew with other dependables like Baser Amer, Chris Newsome, Bong Quinto and Allein Maliksi.

It’s also a star-studded Pinoy cast over at TNT with Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, and RR Pogoy in tow. Pogoy is currently recuperating from a back injury and the team is hopeful he’ll be good to go once the PBA resumes hostilities after the SEA Games break.

Managing the players during the long lull is also a primary concern.