TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson shoots against NLEX in Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.–PBA IMAGES
Coach Chot Reyes would rather focus on what he can control at this point instead of dwelling on the prospect of seeing the two group winners of the PBA Governors’ Cup face off in the playoffs earlier than expected.
“Our focus right now is on this series,” Reyes said after the Tropang Giga drew first blood in their best-of-five quarterfinal series opener against the NLEX Road Warriors with a 107-102 victory on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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“It’s unusual, I’m surprised, but it was approved by the PBA Board.”
The surprise is that no one brought up the issue when the tournament format was announced, despite the fact that it put the two top teams in the group stage in each other’s semifinal path.
That means if TNT gets two more wins in the series, and Rain or Shine subdues Magnolia in their own quarterfinal bracket, the two teams will meet in a best-of-seven semifinals, which would be odd since the only time the Tropang Giga, who topped Group A, and the ElastoPainters, who ruled Group B, should face off is if both of them reached the Finals.
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Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, at the conclusion of the group stage, voiced out on the unusual competition format and said that it disincentivized the two squads that worked hard to get the No. 1 seed in their respective groups.
The other quarterfinal sets are Group A No. 2 Meralco taking on Group B No. 3 Barangay Ginebra and Group B No. 2 San Miguel Beer opposite Group A No. 3 Converge. The winner from both series will meet in the other best-of-seven semis.
“In my exposure, especially in Fiba, the No. 1 teams always meet in the end. I assumed that it [would be] the same format [for the Governors’ Cup],” said Reyes, a former Gilas Pilipinas coach.
Called out
Fans were quick to call out the league on social media, but with the format already approved and released to the media even before the season-opening conference began in mid-August, the PBA opted to stick with the status quo.
That is why Reyes is also opting to look at a different perspective.
“If you look at it, all of the teams in the playoffs are strong and you still have to be at your best, regardless,” said Reyes. “Like I said, I just focus within our control and see whatever happens in the future.”
TNT rode on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s 45 points after sitting out the final group stage assignment on Sunday to rest his ankle as the Tropang Giga completed their comeback from 13 down in the second quarter.
“It was definitely big,” Hollis-Jefferson said of the day off he got against NorthPort. “I was ready to play as many minutes as coach Chot wanted me to.”
NLEX fell short of stunning TNT in the opener, with import DeQuan Jones finishing with 38 points.
Jones added 12 rebounds for the Road Warriors in the loss even as Robert Bolick was held to 10 points on top of five rebounds and seven assists.
NLEX led 49-36 in the second quarter and it took time before TNT was able to regain the lead, which came in the fourth behind Hollis-Jefferson and Calvin Oftana.
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Oftana hit two triples in the fourth, the last of which gave the Tropang Giga a 100-91 lead, time down to 1:30.