MANILA, Philippines – TNT gained an advantage against Rain or Shine in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal matchup by making the most of its defensive capabilities.

Coach Chot Reyes is aware that his Tropang Giga must continue to put in extra work against the similarly motivated Elasto Painters when the series moves to the PhilSports Arena on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Knowing that the road to success will not be simple, Gilas Pilipinas expects a difficult series. Given their opponents’ fierce competition, head coach Chot Reyes has underlined the importance of constant effort. The team is aware that there will be no tolerance for complacency and that each game will need their full attention and commitment.

With a roster that is both versatile and deep, the opposition team offers a well-rounded challenge. They are a dangerous opponent because of their well-balanced makeup, which enables them to play well on both ends of the court. They gain from having a strong local core as well as a top-tier import who contributes leadership, expertise, and experience. They are a challenging team to defeat due to their quality and tactical discipline, which emphasizes the need for Gilas to provide their best effort.

Reyes and his coaching team have emphasized the need for preparation and execution in light of these issues. To counter their opponent’s strengths, Gilas Pilipinas must demonstrate quick decision-making, effective defensive changes, and unified teamwork. Each possession will be vital, and the result will be largely determined by the player’s capacity to remain composed under duress.

Gilas is still up for the task, even though the series is predicted to be a grind from beginning to end. As they fight for a vital campaign victory, the team wants to step up and show off their ability and tenacity.

That was partially the case for TNT when it won 88-84 in the first game of the best-of-seven series last Wednesday.

As expected by Reyes, Rain or Shine averaged a tournament-high 114.67 points in their best-of-three quarterfinal matchup with Converge, and top local shooter Calvin Oftana missed time due to Gilas Pilipinas duties.

Especially without Calvin Abueva, head coach Chot Reyes stressed the value of defense in winning the game. Reyes emphasized the necessity to make up for Abueva’s absence with a solid defensive effort, acknowledging that the team’s offensive output will suffer.

By concentrating on reducing their opponents’ scoring opportunities, Gilas Pilipinas was able to effectively implement this plan. They held the other team to less than 90 points, demonstrating that their defensive discipline was the decisive element in the match. They were able to break their opponent’s flow and manage the game’s tempo by putting constant pressure on them and tightening their defensive rotations.

Gilas made sure that their defensive vigor determined the result rather than depending on plays with lots of points. They kept their opponents from gathering momentum by forcing hard shots and limiting open looks. In the end, this strategy enabled them to achieve a significant victory in spite of their offensive difficulties.

It was difficult for the E-Painters to execute, especially when it came to winning. They shot 0-of-11 from the field, including five missed 3-point efforts, and only tallied three charity points in the game’s last 6:17.

Rain or Shine did a fantastic defensive job on TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the early going and had a 37-28 lead before a listless finish that was aided by a total of 22 mistakes. That was a sad conclusion for the team.

Even though Hollis-Jefferson only made 8 of 27 field goals, he still finished with 23 points. His 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal helped make up for his dismal shooting.

Locals in Rain or Shine are undoubtedly eager to help relieve some of the pressure on foreigner Deon Thompson, who finished the first game with 29 points and 16 rebounds but was harried into seven turnovers by TNT’s own swarming defense.

Adrian Nocum also had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds in one of his seldom starts, but players like Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, and Jhonard Clarito must also contribute more than their fair share.