The Barangay Ginebra and the TNT Tropang Giga are both on winning streaks, but one of them will have to start building momentum again after their showdown this Friday at the PhilSports Arena. Will the Barangay stop TNT? Or, will the Tropang Giga disconnect Ginebra from the win column?

Catch this game live on Friday,  April 19at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (5-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Scottie Thompson
  • Maverick Ahanmisi
  • Louis Cu
  • Christian Standhardinger
  • Japeth Aguilar

Ginebra scored win No. 5 this conference last Sunday by taming the NorthPort Batang Pier, 95-88. Christian Standhardinger, who is on a tear, powered the Barangay with a team-best 25 points in that game to go with 17 rebounds. So far in the Philippine Cup, the two-time PBA Best Player of the Conference is averaging 18.4 points and 10/8 rebounds per game while shooting close to 50 percent from the field. 

He might have to do more for Ginebra, with Jamie Malonzo expected to miss multiple weeks because of a calf injury he suffered in the NorthPort game. Malonzo’s absence is huge, as he’s a versatile and athletic weapon that’s hard to replace for the Barangay. But Ginebra still has the depth to mitigate the impact of his temporary absence, with Mav Ahanmisi, Japeth Aguilar, and Louis Cu to see expanded roles and higher usages.

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TNT Tropang Giga (4-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jayson Castro 
  • RR Pogoy
  • Calvin John Oftana
  • Kelly Williams
  • Brandon Rosser

Calvin Oftana’s hands can melt steel beams. He did actually in TNT’s last game, as he went nuclear for 37 points with 12 rebounds and six assists in a 104-101 win over the NLEX Road Warriors in Candon City last Saturday. His performance was enough to put the Tropang Giga above .500 again, with TNT now on a two-game win streak. 

Oftana will be a tough assignment for Ginebra’s wing defenders especially since the Barangay are missing Malonzo, who would have been a great matchup for the former San Beda star. Apart from Oftana, the Tropang Giga will also be looking for RR Pogoy to produce. Through seven appearances this conference, Oftana has averaged 21.9 points and shot 40.5 percent from deep, while Pogoy has put up 18.5 points with a 41.5 3FG% in six outings. The Tropang Giga are the most prolific team from deep in the league right now with 11.6 made threes per game and with four players shooting at least 38.5 3FG%.

Picks

Spread: TNT Tropang Giga (+2)

Over/Under: Under (186.0)

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