Will Game 2 be an encore of Game 1?
TNT KaTropa and San Miguel Beer want different answers as they resume hostilities in their best-of-seven championship showdown in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
The Tropang Texters go for a commanding 2-0 series lead as they look to repeat over the Beermen in Game 2 at 7 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
TNT sent a huge statement in Game 1 by punching San Miguel Beer hard in the mouth right away.
The Tropang Texters showed why they are the top seed by taking the opener with much ease, 109-96, last Sunday night as the Beermen were shell-shocked.
“We’re also lucky we caught them (San Miguel) off guard in Game 1,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena. “Hopefully, we can sustain our momentum though we expect them to comeback strong.”
Leading Best Import candidate Terrence Jones was completely in his element, once again producing a double-double in Game 1 with 41 points and 12 rebounds for a masterful showing.
San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria felt like his team was yet to recover from its gruelling semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
He hopes that Game 2 will be different scenario for his squad.
“I believe we weren’t fully recovered from the series against Rain or Shine and it showed in Game 1,” said Austria.
TNT unleashed 18 unanswered points in the first quarter of Game 1 and that proved to be the beginning of the end for San Miguel Beer, which was unable to recover.