TNT seeks share of lead vs Alaska

TNT Ka-Tropa tries to keep its unblemished slate when the Texters battle Alaska in a showdown of undermanned squads in the PBA Governors Cup at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. with the Aces, who will be shooting for a second straight victory after debuting with a loss, to miss the suspended Calvin Abueva even as Rain or Shine and Blackwater slug it out in the 4:15 p.m. appetizer.

Abueva, the Best Player of the Commissioner’s Cup, was suspended a game and fined P22,000 for elbowing Barangay Ginebra’s Chris Ellis in the face on Sunday, leaving a large hole in the Alaska game for today.

The Texters, though, are also having manpower problems of their own with four players, counting super rookie Troy Rosario and defensive whiz Matt Ganuelas-Rosser out because of different injuries.

This game will also put TNT import Mario Little under the microscope as he will be ranged against the crafty LeDontae Henton, the southpaw who has been very efficient on both ends for the Aces.

A TNT victory would give the Texters a tie with idle Mahindra at the top after the Enforcers continued to amaze with a 105-102 dismantling of defending champion San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We will be playing one of the best teams in the league without one of our best players who is one of the best (players) in the league,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said.

The Aces survived the Gin Kings in a overtime thriller on Sunday night when Compton, aside from getting good all-around numbers from Henton, got a lot of locals to step up, including JV Casio.

This will also just be the third game that Alaska will be playing without old reliable Cyrus Baguio, whom the Aces dealt away in a trade to Phoenix Petroleum just a week before the start of the conference.

Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters are heavily favored over the Elite because of their loaded local roster and an import in Dior Lowhorn who is starting to get the feel of the Rain or Shine system.

Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan and a host of others will be there backing up Lowhorn as Rain or Shine continues its quest to win back-to-back titles for the first time after ruling the Commissioner’s Cup over Alaska.