Tropang 5G battle Gin Kings in early clash of titans at PBA 50th season

The PBA's 50th season continues on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with two Philippine Cup games scheduled: Meralco versus Blackwater at 5:15 p.m., followed by TNT versus Barangay Ginebra at 7:30 p.m.

The main event is the clash between rivals TNT Tropang 5G (1-0) and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (0-1), reigniting a fierce rivalry from the previous season. TNT started the season with a 93-78 win over Phoenix, while Ginebra lost their opener to Magnolia, 73-80.

TNT's coach Chot Reyes aims to establish an early strong tone, whereas Ginebra's coach Tim Cone is focused on avoiding an 0-2 start, especially with upcoming tough games against Meralco, San Miguel, and NLEX. Cone emphasized the need for improved performance to compete effectively in the challenging schedule.

In the earlier game, Meralco Bolts (0-2) will attempt to end their losing streak against Blackwater (1-0), who are seeking an upset to take an early lead in the standings.