ESPN5.com previews the four quarterfinal match-ups of the 2019 Commissioner's Cup. We look at how the no. 1 seed TNT KaTropa matches up with no. 8 seed Alaska Aces.
1. How they got here
The TNT KaTropa have been on a roll throughout the ongoing PBA Commissioner's Cup. They demolished most of their opponents, recording an average winning margin of 15 points across 10 games.
With former NBA player Terrence Jones at the forefront, the KaTropa emerged on top of the league standings -- with an eight-game streak to boot -- heading into the playoffs. They would have finished the elimination round unscathed if not for their lone loss to second-seed NorthPort early in the conference.
The Alaska Aces, in contrast, barely made it to the next round. For the second straight conference, they had to force their way into the quarterfinals through a knockout battle for the last slot. They kept their hopes alive, thanks to a gutsy overtime win against Meralco Friday night.
Before it went downhill for the Aces, they had a promising stretch where they won four games with Chris Daniels in the fold. They failed to sustain the momentum, however, as they succumbed to a five-game skid while scrambling to find the right import replacement. They experimented with Nino Johnson, switched back to Daniels, and then ultimately decided to get an old reliable in Diamon Simpson.
2. TNT can win this series because...
Terrence Jones is unstoppable. Even Alaska coach Alex Compton admitted that nobody in the PBA can match up with the former Houston Rockets player. Unlike most of the teams, the KaTropa never felt the need to replace their reinforcement this conference.
Jones has truly shown his worth, unleashing monster numbers of 33.7 points, 16.1 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 3.1 blocks, and 1.5 steals in 11 games. The team's familiarity with an import that had been there from the start will be a huge advantage for TNT. Jones' presence in the paint, which allows the local players to operate more efficiently, is a difficult puzzle that the Aces will struggle to solve defensively.
3. Alaska can win this series because...
They can go back to their roots and utilize their team defense as they try to disrupt TNT's top-notch offensive flow. Diamon Simpson cannot match up with Jones one-on-one, but guys like Sonny Thoss and Vic Manuel can help out. True to their "we-not-me" mantra, they have to work as a cohesive unit on defense if they want to keep in pace with the KaTropa.
The Aces need to display their A+ game from tip-off to endgame. They will obviously face an uphill climb against the league-leaders, but as they showed in their previous game when their backs were against the wall, they can use their tenacity and resilience to pull off the improbable.
4. Key players from both sides
While Terrence Jones will definitely be the focal point for TNT, the veterans' performance are also key factors to TNT's success. RR Pogoy, in particular, has been on a tear as of late. His shooting will be instrumental in spacing the floor and easing the scoring load off their import.
Vic Manuel will be the game-changer for Alaska. The veteran forward, who returned this conference after a long injury layoff, has not yet regained his peak form, but he can provide the much-needed support that Diamon Simpson needs. Chris Banchero will also need to step up his game, similar to the clutch heroics that he showcased against Meralco, to help the Aces stay in contention.
5. Prediction
Alaska's survival instinct may kick in, especially coming off an inspired do-or-die victory that ended a month-long slump, but TNT is too strong to get beaten at this stage of the competition. The KaTropa will be able to extend their hot winning streak heading into the semifinals.