Tropang 5G face major adjustments after Bol injury as semifinal battle shifts to Game 3

TNT will once again be forced to adapt under pressure as the Tropang 5G head into Game 3 of their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series against Meralco without import Bol Bol.

The defending champions enter a critical stretch after losing the former NBA big man for the remainder of the conference due to a partial Achilles tear suffered early in their 87-76 loss in Game 2 last Friday.

The setback prompted team manager Jojo Lastimosa to immediately search for reinforcements. TNT reportedly reached out to former imports Darius Days and ex-NBA forward Marquese Chriss, but time constraints prevented both players — who are still in the United States — from arriving in Manila in time for Game 3.

TNT was able to secure the services of Malick Diouf, although his availability for the pivotal contest remains uncertain as the team continues to process the necessary league clearances.

It also remains unclear whether Diouf will stay on as TNT’s import for the remainder of the semifinals or merely serve as a temporary replacement while the team continues exploring other options, including Days, Chriss, or another possible reinforcement to fill the void left by the 7-foot-3 Bol.

Meralco, meanwhile, hopes to take advantage of TNT’s uncertainty after capitalizing on the situation in Game 2, where the Bolts slowly seized momentum before pulling away late behind a crucial three-pointer from Marvin Jones.

“We’ve been to four Finals before against Ginebra, and injuries were always part of those series, so we probably caught a break this time,” Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said after the victory. “You just have to make the most of those opportunities.”

According to TigerScore sportsbook, TNT enters Game 3 as a 7.5-point underdog, with the over/under pegged at 186.5 as of 4:30 p.m.

The matchup is scheduled for a 5:15 p.m. tipoff at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and serves as the curtain-raiser for the evening’s second semifinal clash between Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine at 7:30 p.m.

Like the TNT-Meralco series, the showdown between the Gin Kings and the Elasto Painters is also tied at one game apiece after Ginebra escaped with a 109-101 victory last Friday.

Despite leading by as many as 24 points and holding a 17-point advantage with less than five minutes remaining, Ginebra nearly saw the game slip away as Rain or Shine mounted a furious comeback led by Jhonard Clarito, Gian Mamuyac, and Jaylen Johnson before running out of time.

Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos eventually helped secure the win, but Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted afterward that Rain or Shine still holds an edge in tempo because of its fast-paced style.

Cone also acknowledged that the Gin Kings have struggled with matching the Elasto Painters’ preferred pace instead of dictating the rhythm themselves.

“If I’m being honest, the pace of the game right now favors Rain or Shine,” Cone said. “Even though the series is tied, we still need to figure that out better.”

Ginebra remains the betting favorite for Game 3, with TigerScore listing the Gin Kings as 5.5-point favorites and the projected total set at 203.5 points.