The TNT Tropang 5G tries to sink the Meralco deeper into a hole in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals series Friday in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gametime is 5:15 p.m.
Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes said on Wednesday that his team continued to improve in the series, now that they have a commanding 2-0 lead over the Bolts following a 109-92 triumph in Game 2, also at the Big Dome.
In Game 2, Reyes said their outside shots fell through and their performance was an improvement of what happened in Game 1, when they beat the Bolts, 100-95.
“In Game 1, our outside shots were not going in. So I asked the players for a solution. So we kept going inside, and that led to a great number of free throws in Game 1. Tonight, not so much because our three pointers were going in,” said Reyes.
TNT needed to come back from 21 points in Game 1, while in Game 2, Reyes’ crew got their strength from 12 three pointers to get their win.
This time, Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading led the charge with 26 and 24 points, respectively, even as the Bolts struggled with their three-point shooting, making just one of 14 attempts.
Meanwhile, the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel go separate ways at 7:30 p.m., with their semifinal series tied at 1-1.
The Beermen fought to a 93-84 edging of the Gin Kings in Game 2, banking on a balanced offensive effort and strong bench play from Jeron Teng and Don Trollano.
While Junemar Fajardo dominated with 21 points and 23 rebounds, Teng came out with 13 points, while Trollano added 12 points and Jericho Cruz provided 11 points.
