The search for their first win of the conference continues for the Terrafirma Dyip this Thursday when they take on a serious title contender in the TNT Tropang Giga. The Dyip need to find their form and start winning soon if they are to make it to the top four of Group A. Will Terrafirma get it together against TNT? Or, will the Tropang Giga add to the growing woes of the Dyip?

Catch this game live on Thursday,  September 5 at 5:00 pm, Manila time.

Terrafirma Dyip (0-4)

Projected Starting Five:

• Juami Tiongson
• Stanley Pringle
• Kenmark Carino
• Antonio Hester
• Christian Standhardinger

Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger went from playing for a winning franchise to a club that has been so used to failure in the PBA. Terrafirma remains winless after four games in the conference, with the Dyip’s latest loss coming at the hands of the Magnolia Chicken Timplados last Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, 124-103. Pringle poured in 23 points while Standhardinger added 22 markers. 

However, they were also minus-23 and minus-19, respectively. The change in culture could be affecting the play of the two stars, but they will have to continue carrying most of the load for a Terrafirma club that looking to be on its way to finishing yet another forgettable campaign. There is talent in this ball club, and it seems that the Dyip are merely hoping for the pieces on the court to sort everything out by themselves. 

TNT Tropang Giga (3-1)

Projected Starting Five:

• Jayson Castro
• RR Pogoy
• Calvin Oftana
• Glenn Khobuntin
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

After a heartbreaking loss to the Converge FiberXers, the Tropang Giga rebounded right away, with TNT victimizing Magnolia last Thursday, 88-82. Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the way for TNT with 32 points on 11/25 shooting from the field. Rey Nambatac and RR Pogoy both came off the bench and combined for 27 points and five 3-pointers.

“We learned from it,” the former Arizona Wildcats star sad about the loss to Converge and the recovery that followed in the win over Magnolia, per TiebreakerTimes.

It was a tough one.”

Hollis Jefferson can expect another big scoring game this Thursday against Terrafirma’s faulty defense that has already allowed three different teams to score more than 105 points. That said, TNT is also capable of winning games on the strength of its defense. The Tropang Giga have surrendered just an average of 86.5 points thus far in the conference. 

Picks

Spread: TNT (-15.0)

Over/Under: Over (202.5)