TNT faces Ros, NP meets Geneva

Top Seeds Northport and TNT collide with separate dangerous opponents as the best semifinal series of the Cup of the Commissioner of Season 49 of the PBA begins on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Batang dock arrived at the Final Four for the first time since 2019 after surviving the Hotshots of Magnolia, 113-110, on February 6 in its quarterfinals duel, while the Tropang Giga mistreated east, 109- 93, to reach the semifinals.

Northport, who is playing his best performance after ensuring the best seed for the first time in the history of the franchise, will face a dangerous enemy in Barangay Geneva.

Monster Block’s Japeth Aguilar Japeth blocks the Cliff Hodge of Meralco during the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner in the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Mallate, Manila, on February 7, 2025. PHOTO OF RIVER DELAVIO

Both squads face 7:30 pm to begin semifinal hostilities.

TNT and Rain or Shine (ROS) shock in the curtain collector at 5 PM, marking the series opening game for both teams.

The Geneva coach, Tim Cone, acknowledged that they will face a improved and hungry side of Northport in the playoffs.

“Northport beat us in the eliminations, and they simply beat everyone in the elimination. They have been playing very well,” said Cone, just before the league took a two -week break to give way to the preparation and participation of Gilas the Gilas FIBA ASIA CUP 2025 qualifiers.

The Batang dock is certainly playing the best of this conference as evidenced by its 10-3 record to seal the best seed in the playoffs.

The neighborhoods of coach Bonnie so defeated Geneva, 119-116, last January, while defeating San Miguel Beer and Magnolia to complete a sweep of ball clubs owned by San Miguel Corps.

Cone said that Northport’s heart and soul are, without a doubt, Arvin Tolentino.

“Arvin is obviously playing at the MVP level, while (Joshua) Munzon is also playing at the upper level. Those boys carry the load,” cone shared.

In addition to the two best local gunners, Northport’s key defensive anchor is none other than the importation Kadeem Jack, which provides solid score and internal presence.

Perhaps, an additional advantage is that Geneva players led by import Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar are watching an exhausting trip with Gilas, where the national side leaned before Taiwan and New Zealand in the qualifiers .

Meanwhile, TNT does not expect an easy series this time against Rain or Shine, which is anxious to reach the final for the first time since he won the 2016 Commissioner Cup.

Elast painters have reached the Final Four by two consecutive conferences, just to fall short in their final offer from there.

The recent Cup of Governors saw Ros beened to TNT, 4-1, in its semifinal series.

“With our experience playing against them, that gives us more wisdom, a better perspective, on how to prepare against them,” said Ros coach Yeng Guiao.

The TNT coach, Chot Reyes, admits that the experiences of Guiao’s positions in recent conferences will serve them in good condition.

“They are very different (of the last conference), they are much more mature and have a different import,” said Reyes.