The Tropang Giga and the Converge FiberXers will finish another week of the PBA with a clash this Sunday in Antipolo. Which of these two teams will come down from the mountain with a win? 

Catch this game live on Sunday,  October 30 at 6:45  pm, Manila time.

TNT Tropang Giga (3-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Kib Montalbo
  • SG: Mikey Williams
  • SF: Kelly Williams
  • PF: Cameron Oliver
  • C: Poy Erram

The Tropang Giga are coming off a soul-crushing loss to the Converge FiberXers on Friday, as Aldin Ayo’s team smashed them to the tune of a 130-117 score. TNT trailed by as many 35 points. Chot Reyes is definitely going to squeeze every ounce of that loss to motivate his players for this Sunday’s showdown with Phoenix. Import Cam Oliver erupted for 41 points with 11 rebounds against Converge, while Mikey Williams had 27 points with seven 3-pointers on 14 attempts. 

But the Tropang Giga simply did not have enough bullets to outlast Converge in a duel. It should be a different story for TNT against the Fuel Masters, though. Phoenix isn’t as high-scoring as Converge and also doesn’t have as hot of an outside shooting as the FiberXers. In fact, the Fuel Masters are near the bottom in the league this conference in points per game and points per 100 possessions. TNT has won three of the last four meetings with the Fuel Masters.

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Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters  (4-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Tyler Tio
  • SG: Kurt Lojera
  • SF: Javee Mocon
  • PF: Simon Camacho
  • C: Kaleb Wesson

It’s amazing how Phoenix has turned its conference around. The Fuel Masters were circling down the drain with a 0-3 start to the Commissioner’s Cup, but they have successfully gone undefeated in four games since. Phoenix’s current win streak includes victories against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (101-93) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (92-83). 

The Fuel Masters aren’t doing anything too remarkable on offense, but they are having success because of their defense. Phoenix is second in the conference overall with a 97.5 defensive rating. Only the Bay Area Dragons and the Fuel Masters have defensive ratings under 100. Teams are having a harder time setting up plays against Phoenix which is No. 1 in the PBA in opponents’ turnover rate (17.2%).

PREDICTION:

Spread: Phoenix (+6.5) covers.

Over/Under: The total (202.5) hits the Under.