It’s been a weirdly interesting series. Both teams are being slowed down by frustrating circumstances, and no one can really tell who can ultimately take advantage of the issues, but more on that later.
Catch this game live tomorrow, November 22, at 3:45 PM.
The Talk N’ Text Tropang Giga (1-1)
TNT was more lucky than anything to squeak past Phoenix in Game 1, and the guys should hope it hasn’t ran out. That luck was nowhere to be seen in Game 2 as they played sloppy again and eventually got beat, 110-103.
The team’s top scorer, Ray Parks, bounced back from his dud Game 1 by logging a conference-high 41 points on 13-for-22 shooting. It was great and all, except none of his teammates even came close to having a complementary performance, with the rest of the Tropang Giga shooting an ugly 34.8%.
Parks’s partner in crime, Roger Pogoy, has now stunk in back-to-back games, which should be a concern. He’s a combined 10-for-31 from the floor in the series and doesn’t have a lot to show in other areas. Veteran floor general Jayson Castro took a step back in Game 2 as well as he was 2-for-10 for nine points in 29 minutes of play. Finally, there’s stretch big man Troy Rosario, who was 4-for-16 on Friday, and is only averaging a measly 7.5 PPG in the series.
Parks is a reliable weapon and he should be able to put up another solid outing, but Pogoy, Castro, and Rosario will simply have to step up. They’ll generate confidence from the other guys if they do.
TNT is averaging 99 PPG in the series.
The Phoenix Super LPG Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-1)
The Fuel Masters suffered a frustrating defeat in Game 1, so it was great to see their resilience in the Game 2 victory. They are still seen as an upstart team, and they use it as a motivation.
Unfortunately, that’s just half of real challenge that Phoenix is facing. The team’s top scorer, and easily one of the best scorers in the league, Matthew Wright, is dealing with an injury. He twisted his ankle in the series opener and it has limited him to just 22 minutes in the entire series.
With Wright hobbled, the Fuel Masters will continue looking at other top guys, like Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins, to fill the void. They did just that in Game 2, with Perkins tallying 21 points and four rebounds, Abueva adding a solid 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the cast providing a balanced production.
Phoenix is averaging 101 PPG in the series.
PREDICTIONS:
Considering TNT as one of the league’s elites, and Phoenix not really being world-beaters on defense, it appears Tropang Giga is due for an explosive game. I’m predicting that we’ll finally see it tomorrow. Parks will have another strong game, with Pogoy and the rest following suit.
TNT wins the all-important Game 3, 109-100.
