(CNN Philippines) — Four teams remain standing after vicious battles in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, Purefoods Star Hotshots, and Meralco Bolts.
At this juncture, the team standings no longer matter. The squads are back to square one and will figure in a best-of-five semifinal series. Rain or Shine will take on Meralco, while Talk ‘N Text tackle defending champion Purefoods.
The Tropang Texters and Hotshots take the stage on Wednesday (April 1) at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Here is CNN Philippines’ preview of the match.
How they got here
Talk ‘N Text made mince meat of the Barako Bull in the quarterfinals, while Purefoods swept the Alaska Aces in the best-of-three series.
Battle of the Imports
It will be a clash between the top and fourth ranked imports who both have been heating up for their respective ballclubs.
Purefoods import Denzel Bowles (33.4 points and 15.2 rebounds per game) leads the Best Import race, while Talk ‘N Text’s Ivan Johnson (33.7 points and 14.3 rebounds per game) isn’t too far behind.
It will be an interesting match between the two replacement reinforcements, who played six and five games into the conference, respectively, but were able to get their teams into the groove. Hence the No. 2 and No. 3 finishes.
It’s not sure whether Bowles or import-stopper Marc Pingris will guard Johsnon, but the Purefoods import should step up on defense if coach Tim Cone gives him that task. With his shooting prowess, Johnson has been a headache for teams employing zone defense.
TNT’s balanced attack
We said this before, and we’ll keep on saying it until it becomes a moot: Perhaps no other team is as dangerous as Talk ‘N Text in terms of offense. They have proven it time and again. Anyone can score. Even the rookies can step up big time when needed.
Their latest casualties were the Barako Bull Energy, who they mercilessly pummeled, 127-97, to book a free ride to the semifinals.
Whether their offense will work on the defense-oriented Purefoods or not remains a question. Or maybe we can use as reference their elimination round encounter that needed three overtime periods to decide the winner.
Purefoods’ defense and ball movement
Purefoods Star Hotshots no doubt have turned to its best weapon that won them a Grand Slam last season: defense. What’s more, they are playing as a team.
Purefoods’s offense doesn’t just come from defense but also fluid ball movement. Marc Pingris says the team is sharing the ball more now, thus the sweeping of the Alaska Aces in their best-of-three quarterfinal duel.
Even import Denzel Bowles is sharing the ball, norming 4 assists – the most on the team.
Marc Barroca vs Jayson Castro
During last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, it was a match between Mark Barroca and Jimmy Alapag.
Jayson Castro watched as Barroca muscled his way past Alapag to drop 13 points in a crucial stretch that allowed then San Mig Super Coffee to pull away and win the championship.
With Alapag now serving as team manager, it’s time for Castro to exact revenge on the spitfire Barroca.
It’s an exciting duel knowing both cagers are playing with much gusto.
