Tropang Giga-Hotshots rematch highlights PBA resumption today

TNT and Magnolia — the protagonists in the last Philippine Cup finale — lock horns again today to highlight the reopening of the stalled Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The heavyweights renew their rivalry at 6 p.m. with the unbeaten Hotshots (3-0) seeking payback for their All-Filipino loss and continued stay at the top and the Philippine Cup kingpin Tropang Giga (2-2) looking to repeat and climb up to joint fifth.

Second-running Meralco (2-0) and No. 3 NLEX (4-1) engage in an equally explosive clash at 3 p.m.  that kicks off the pro league’s spectator-less resumption after over a month of play suspension.

The Bolts, who lost Nards Pinto but acquired Chris Banchero from unrestricted free agency during the break, and the Road Warriors, who beefed up their backcourt with the signing of Gilas guard Matt Nieto, are out to solidify their lofty positions in the standings.

The rematch with Hotshots actually starts a lung-busting four-game schedule in seven days for the Tropang Giga. With coach Chot Reyes and his charges doing Gilas Pilipinas duties, TnT is playing Magnolia tonight, Phoenix on Sunday, San Miguel Beer on Wednesday and Barangay Ginebra on Friday to make room for  their International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers stint.

“We know it’s very crucial but it is what it is, whose Gilas selections from TnT will play four matches in the FIBA meet from Feb. 24-28 before returning to the PBA eliminations.

“Hopefully by helping Gilas, it’s going to help our game and hopefully help us in the PBA as well. There’s a big risk na makakasagabal siya (on PBA preparations) but it’s a risk we’re willing to take,” he added.

TnT is sticking with Aaron Fuller, who replaced original import McKenzie Moore, for the remainder of the Governors’ Cup, and hired UFA Matt Ganuelas Rosser prior to restart.

Mike Harris-bannered Magnolia welcomed returning veteran Rafi Reavis and new acquisition Adrian Wong to the fold as it bids to pick up from where it left off in the pandemic-disrupted tourney.

Coach Chito Victolero hopes to avoid a repeat of the Philippine Cup experience, where his wards had a good start but lost their timing coming back from a similar hiatus.

“We just try to learn from the mistake na nakuha namin last conference,” he said. — Olmin Leyba