The TNT Tropang 5G are the only team without a win in the conference, but their drought could end soon, as they go up against the one-win Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Ynares Center in Montalban. Will TNT finally break through in the win column? Or will the Fuel Masters hand the Tropang 5G another loss?

Catch this game live on Friday,  May 2. 2025 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-3)

Projected Starting Five:

• Tyler Tio
• Ricci Rivero
• Matthew Daves
• Kai Ballungay
• Jason Perkins

After securing their first win of the conference with a 109-97 romp over the Meralco Bolts, the Fuel Masters failed to sustain their momentum, as they suffered a 118-99 loss at the hands of the Magnolia Hotshots at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Zamboanga City last Saturday. The Fuel Masters showed some firepower by scoring nearly 100 points against Magnolia, but their defense spelled their doom, with five Hotshots players scoring at least 10 points. 

Nevertheless, there’s promise for Phoenix, with big man Ballungay dropping a monster double-double of 25 points and 15 rebounds. The frontcourt duo of Ballungay and veteran Jason Perkins, who scored 17 points against Magnolia, can give the winless Tropang 5G some issues. However, the backcourt needs to step up for Phoenix. Although RR Garcia had 22 points in the Magnolia game, Tyler Tio and Ricci Rivero combined for only 12 points.

TNT Tropang 5G (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• Rey Nambatac
• Kim Aurin
• Calvin Oftana
• JP Erram
• Kelly Williams

Still fresh from winning the championship in the previous conference, the Tropang 5G are still looking for their first win in the Philippine Cup. They were blown out in their first outing, a 91-74 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors. It was the same story in TNT’s game, as the Tropang 5G absorbed a 100-94 defeat to the Converge FiberXers. 

Perhaps the Tropa 5G are still trying to get their rhythm back after such a short rest in between conferences. That said, Calvin Oftana appeared already in form even in the loss to Converge, as he dropped 33 points. With no import around, Oftana should continue to get a ton of touches and get plenty of looks and mismatches, while operating alongside RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac, who chipped in 15 and 12 points in the meeting with the FiberXers.

Picks

Spread: TNT (-8.5)

Over/Under: Over (190.5)