TNT KaTropa and the Phoenix Petroleum Fuelmasters face off in a critical duel as both seek to move up the ladder and keep up with the teams above them in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
Both in the middle of the pack, the Tropang Texters (4-3) and the Fuelmasters (3-4) dance at 4:30 p.m. even as struggling squads Barangay Ginebra (3-4) and Kia (1-6) face off.
While TNT KaTropa and Phoenix are very much in the thick of the wild race towards the quarterfinals, both have yet to find consistency in their play.
They are both having rollercoaster campaigns thus far.
The Tropang Texters have alternated wins and losses while the Fuelmasters suffered a stinging setback following the wins that they have accumulated.
TNT first had a hard time before it finally shrugged off the Picanto, 90-85, last Wednesday in its last outing. Phoenix got ran out of the building by Alaska, 93-75, also on the same day.
“We had a difficult time in our last game against Kia. Still, the issue for us is consistency in terms of playing at a high level. We hope to address that as we go further,” said TNT coach Nash Racela of his team’s current stand.
In the second game, the Gin Kings are likewise in dire need of a victory to boost their bid for the quarters even as the Picanto is in desperation mode as it looks to keep its sagging hopes of making the next round.
Ginebra collapsed towards the end in its last game last Saturday, bowing to the NLEX, 78-81.
Phoenix will try to bounce back from a bitter defeat where the new Phoenix coach Louie Alas saw his former squad display its old, fiery defensive form at the expense of his new team. Alaska beat Phoenix 93-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup matchup last Wednesday.
Alas confessed that they were mauled and manhandled by his old team during the post game interview. Alas was obviously disappointed with the performance of his new squad saying that they have a long way to go.
He also said the new way of officiating, which allowed freer contacts favored the physical Alaska Aces.
He said that Alaska reached so many championships during his stay with the team precisely because of the physicality of the Aces. He said that his new team at Phoenix is just starting to adopt that physical style of play.