ANOTHER rivalry is set to be renewed.
It did not take long for TNT KaTropa and Barangay Ginebra to renew their rivalry as they are set to once again meet in the semifinals, this time in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
The two juggernauts start their best-of-five semifinal tussle tonight at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with both of them eyeing to draw first blood.
Continued supremacy is what’s on the mind of TNT while exacting revenge and defending its throne are the priority of defending champion Ginebra.
For most part of the season, the Tropang Texters had the number of the Gin Kings and they obviously want to keep it that way
They dispatched the Gin Kings just last Commissioner’s Cup in the semifinals, 3-1, to march to the finals and eventually finish as runner-ups.
Furthermore, TNT also won their elimination round meeting more than a week ago. The Texters dominated the Gin Kings, 121-92, to claim the No. 2 seed and send a resounding statement.
Since then, No. 3 Ginebra gathered itself back up, bouncing back strong in the quarterfinals. The Gin Kings eliminated Grand Slam-seeking powerhouse San Miguel easily, 104-84, last Wednesday to advance to the next stage of the playoffs.
TNT took the longer road. It lost the first game before coming through in the waning seconds to escape pesky Rain or Shine, 118-114, in the second game just last Friday to move forward and arrange another duel with Ginebra.
There were anxious moments for the Tropang Texters during that knockout game against the Painters but thankfully for them, Glen Rice Jr. came through in the clutch to save their season.
Rice’s go-ahead basket in the final minute allowed TNT to continue its campaign and sent Rain or Shine packing.
For the Gin Kings, they are also being led as expected by their do-it-all import Justin Brownlee, who scored 37 points against the Beermen to propel his team back to the semiinals for the fourth straight conference.
Over at the other side of the fence, the other best-of-five semis series just got underway.
Star and Meralco, as of this report, are currently going at it and jumpstarting their own war.