PLAYOFF RACE HEATS UP FOR NORTHPORT, TERRAFIRMA, TNT, PHOENIX
STRUGGLING teams look to regain their bearings and give their flagging playoff bid in the PBA Philippine Cup a big push.
Before we look at the games, here are the team standings:
Team standings
1. San Miguel 7-0
2. Magnolia 5-2
3. Barangay Ginebra 6-3
4. NLEX 5-3
5. Rain or Shine 5-5
6. TNT 4-4
7. Terrafirma 4-5
NorthPort 4-5
9. Blackwater 3-5
Phoenix 3-5
Meralco 3-5
12. Converge 1-8
Wednesday's match-ups as follows:
NorthPort (4-5) vs. Terrafirma (4-5)
When: Wednesday, April 24, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
ONE LOSING STREAK WILL END
Following Converge’s win on Sunday, NorthPort now owns the second longest losing streak in the league at four, right behind Blackwater’s five. The Batang Pier lost in a rout to San Miguel, 120-100, last Sunday to fall to 4-5.
Terrafirma is also on a two-game slide with a similar 4-5 win-loss record. The Dyip were defeated by Rain or Shine, 116-104, in Caloocan City last April 13.
SHOOT THE LIGHTS OUT
Terrafirma is fourth in the league in three-point shots made with 10 a game. Surprisingly, the Dyip still lost in the past two games despite making 18 against San Miguel and 10 against Rain or Shine. The Dyip have a chance to win against the Batang Pier if they continue to hit from the outside while preventing their opponents from doing do. NorthPort is at 11th in the statistical category with 8.2 per outing.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
William Navarro’s scoring production has dipped, averaging just three points over the past two games. His offense is needed for this game in order to break the losing streak.
After not seeing action for two games, Eric Camson gave quality minutes for Terrafirma against Rain or Shine when he had nine points in 10 minutes. Can he deliver once again.
TNT (4-4) vs. Phoenix (3-5)
When: Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
CONTRASTING RESULTS
The Tropang Giga are coming off a tough defeat to Barangay Ginebra, 87-83, last Friday in which Scottie Thompson bailed the Gin Kings out by hitting a late three to win the game. TNT fell to 4-4 with the loss to go down to sixth place.
The Fuelmasters won in a rout over then-second running NLEX, 112-77, to get back to the playoff chase. They are in a three-team logjam with Blackwater and Meralco at ninth place.
PHOENIX’S DEFENSE
More than the 17 threes they made against NLEX, the Fuelmasters’ defense bared its teeth when they limited league-leader Robert Bolick to 11 points. Phoenix must repeat the same effort against TNT, which has a lot of weapons on offense led by Calvin Oftana.
PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jayson Castro had nine points against Ginebra, still decent numbers for the TNT guard. However, the Tropang Giga suffered two defeats when Castro had single-digit in scoring, the other game when he only had four against NorthPort last April 5.
RJ Jazul is now lighting it up from threes with five against Magnolia last April 14 and six against NLEX last Saturday. That was after combining for just eight in the first six games including an 0-of-6 performance against Converge last April 12. Can he continue this trend for Phoenix?
2024-04-24T04:16:31Z dg43tfdfdgfd