By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE TNT KaTropa try to stave off outright elimination in the PBA Philippine Cup today when they take on the streaking NLEX Road Warriors in the resumption of league action at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Set for 4:30 p.m., TNT, currently outside of the quarterfinal picture with a 4-6 record, looks to make full use of its final game of the elimination round of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to notch win number five and get a shot at a playoff for a quarterfinal spot.

A defeat would mean automatic exit for the KaTropa, joining already-eliminated Meralco Bolts and Kia Picanto.

The KaTropa have lost three straight entering the contest, a turn of events that has stymied considerably their push for the next round.

TNT last lost to GlobalPort Batang Pier, 99-84, in a game where it was practically dominated on right from the get-go.

It fell by 22 points, 34-12, by the end of the first quarter and just could not get much headway in their comeback bid the rest of the way.

Jayson Castro led TNT with 24 points while Kelly Williams added 21 of his own.

Despite walking on thin ice, the KaTropa remain upbeat of their chances of advancing provided they execute the way they are supposed to against Road Warriors.

“Our backs are against the wall but we still hold our fate in our hands and we can give ourselves the chance to advance if we win in our last game,” said TNT coach Nash Racela heading into today’s game.

“We need to correct some things in our game and hopefully we get to succeed in that,” he added.

TNT gets to parade new acquisition Jericho Cruz today after getting him via trade from the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for rookie Sidney Onwubere, the KaTropa’s first-round pick in the 2018 draft and guard Kris Rosales.

FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN
Looking to crush TNT’s playoff hopes is NLEX, winner of its last four assignments and already assured of quarterfinal berth at 6-4 and is out to solidify its place in the top six and play in the best-of-three series in the next round.

As per tournament format, only the top eight teams at the end of the elimination round move on to the next phase with the top two enjoying a twice-to-beat edge over the two lowest teams while the middle teams battle in a best-of-three series — #3 vs. #6 and #4 vs. #5.

The Road Warriors’ latest win came over the Blackwater Elite, 93-90, on Feb. 18, which saw guard Kevin Alas ignite a huge fourth-quarter run to pull the rug from under the Elite.

Mr. Alas finished with 25 points, 16 coming in the payoff quarter where NLEX initially overhauled a nine-point deficit, 74-65, entering it before completing the come-from-behind win.

Rookie Kiefer Ravena, who is coming off a great showing in the second window of Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA Asian World Cup Qualifiers bid, added 23 markers for NLEX last time around.

“According to our calculations, six wins get you to the quarterfinals. But there’s still a lot of games to be played,” said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao following their win.

“We’ll just try to avoid the seventh or eighth spot. Five or six is fine with us. We just want to compete on even terms in the next round,” he added.

Meanwhile, playing in the 7 p.m. main game are league-leading and defending champions San Miguel Beermen (8-2) and Rain or Shine (5-4).

San Miguel is already assured of a spot in the top two, along with the Magnolia Hotshots (8-2), while Rain or Shine is looking to propel its playoff push with two games left in its elimination-round schedule, including today’s game.

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