![\"TNT](\"https:\/\/sports.inquirer.net\/files\/2026\/05\/Bol-Manute-Bol-18May2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTNT import Bol Manute Bol will likely be on top of Meralco\u2019s concerns. \u2014PBA IMAGES<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
TNT found the right mix of local and import contributions in its PBA Commissioner\u2019s Cup quarterfinal series against NLEx.<\/p>\n
Even so, Tropang 5G veteran Jayson Castro knows the challenge only gets tougher against Meralco.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, it\u2019ll be hard for us,\u201d said Castro, who recently joined the PBA\u2019s 10,000-point club.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, we get through, but knowing Meralco, they\u2019re a defensive team. So let\u2019s see how far we go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fresh off adding one other milestone to his decorated profession in Game 1, Castro helped TNT close out NLEx with a 118-112 victory of their do-or-die quarterfinal clash at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
But when there\u2019s one one who truly holds the team\u2019s fate in his hand, it’s import Bol Bol, who has learned to strike a balance between scoring the ball and getting his teammates involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cI give credit to Bol because he realized we’d like to play as a team and, at the identical time, he has to share the ball,\u201d Castro said.<\/p>\n
The shifty guard finished with 14 points, eight assists and 4 rebounds. But he wasn\u2019t the just one who got going for TNT.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe locals also stepped up, which I believe was big in supporting Bol,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Roger Pogoy, who returned to the starting unit for the primary time within the import-laden conference within the decider, once more proved his value with 21 points, six rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.<\/p>\n
Calvin Oftana, TNT\u2019s most consistent local throughout the eliminations, also delivered with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.<\/p>\n
The collective effort from the locals helped lighten the load for his or her NBA-caliber import, who still wound up with 35 points and 13 rebounds.<\/p>\n
For Castro, those contributions\u2014together with that Game 1 win where Bol also got quite a lot of local support\u2014prove one thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe we\u2019re getting the team chemistry at the right time in these previous couple of games,\u201d he said. \u201cWithin the eliminations, we can have lost rather a lot, but our game is coming together here within the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
That type of chemistry and native contribution will likely be crucial against Meralco during their semifinal duel that kicks off on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Bol\u2019s ability to attain is beyond query, but his ability to get his teammates involved will matter rather a lot against a team known for its ability to zero in on defensive targets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe eye is nearly all the time on Bol, so he\u2019s been involving us within the offense. He can rating anytime, but he\u2019s sacrificed rather a lot to seek out us and make us threats as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
TNT opens its semifinal duel with sister team Meralco on Wednesday, in Game 1 at the identical venue. INQ<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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TNT import Bol Manute Bol will likely be on top of Meralco\u2019s concerns. \u2014PBA IMAGES TNT found the right mix of local and import contributions in its PBA Commissioner\u2019s Cup quarterfinal series against NLEx. Even so, Tropang 5G veteran Jayson Castro knows the challenge only gets tougher against Meralco. Article continues after this commercial \u201cObviously, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":336472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[826,1920,15665,5443,4502,3000,4216,611,1327,5090],"class_list":["post-336471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-ability","tag-crucial","tag-imports","tag-involve","tag-scoring","tag-semifinal","tag-series","tag-super","tag-teammates","tag-touch"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336471"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":336474,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336471\/revisions\/336474"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/336472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}