TNT is once again to thread tough playoff path

MANILA, Philippines — For the second straight conference in the PBA’s golden season, reigning Governors’ Cup kingpin TNT is going up against a top-seeded opponent in the quarterfinals.

But unlike in the previous Commissioner’s Cup where, as the eighth seeds, the Tropang 5G needed to beat No. 1 NLEX twice to advance, the charges of coach Chot Reyes, as the No. 4 of Group A, will enter the Last-8 on equal footing with the topnotcher of Group B.

It’s a best-of-five affair this time around.

But still, that doesn’t make the job any easier.

“Maski sino naman makalaban sa kabila magiging mahirap, eh,” said coach Chot Reyes as his charges took the lowest ranking following a 112-114 overtime loss to Converge in their de facto battle for Group A No. 3 last Sunday.

“So we have to just worry about ourselves more than anything. Like today (against Converge), we had some terrible defensive lapses down the stretch. ‘Yun ang kailangan namin ayusin. Maski sino’ng kalaban namin sa kabila, eh, kung ganyan kami dumepensa, hindi kami talaga mananalo.”

Streaking Magnolia looms as TNT’s potential opponent in the crossover quarters. Going to the final week of the elims, the Hotshots hold pole position in Group B at 6-3 ahead of fellow qualifiers Rain or Shine (5-3) and Phoenix (5-4).