TNT looks to snap its two-game losing skid to start the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup when it faces Phoenix as the league travels to Rizal to bring the games to a new playing venue at the Ynares Sports Center in Montalban.
Seeking a grand slam this season, the Tropang 5G face the Fuel Masters at 7:30 p.m., hoping rev up its bid for a consecutive championship.
The Tropang Giga dropped their first two games against the NLEX Road Warriors, 74-91, followed by a 94-100 defeat to the Converge FiberXers.
Phoenix, meanwhile, tote a 1-3 record, its lone win courtesy of its 109-97 shock win against defending champion Meralco.
TNT actually had a similar 0-2 start in the Commissioner’s Cup, but managed to create the momentum it needed from there, winning its next six outings on the way to finishing the elimination round with an 8-4 record.
From there, the charges of coach Chot Reyes took care of business, reaching the Finals and eventually, outlasting the Barangay Ginebra Kings in an epic seven-game title series to capture its second crown for the season.
Previous to that, TNT ruled the Governors’ Cup, beating Ginebra as well, 4-2, in the Finals.
The opening game, meanwhile, features the game between NLEX and Blackwater at 5 p.m.
The Road Warriors have won their last two games against Rain or Shine and TNT to enter the game with a 3-1 record.
But the Road Warriors face a Blackwater Bossing, who are coming off a 120-98 drubbing of the NorthPort Batang Pier for their first win in three starts.
“(It’s the) First game of Rain or Shine, and the first game of TNT, that’s also a factor that they played that way,” NLEX coach Jong Uichico said in the reason behind their victories. “I’m happy with how we are playing. Consistency is the key next and to keep on improving.”