The TNT Tropang 5G is entering unfamiliar territory in the PBA 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

The defending champions are the eighth seed in the playoffs, despite having the same talented locals reinforced by former NBA player Bol Bol.

Chot Reyes’ squad will be up against the top seed and twice-to-beat NLEX Road Warriors, who they have defeated in the elimination round.

Despite having the odds stacked against the Tropang 5G, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings head coach Tim Cone believes it’s too early to count out the defending champions, especially with Bol in their team.

“I was looking at Coach Chot’s eyes. I don’t pretend to know what he thinks, but I think they played a good game. They wanted to play a good game. And I don’t think it was a big deal that they lost,” Cone said after Ginebra’s 93-86 win over TNT on Sunday, May 10.

“I think they probably got a matchup that they like against NLEX. That’s going to be a really interesting series between NLEX and TNT,” he added.

After facing TNT in the past, Cone emphasized that the Tropang 5G are defending champions for a reason and can find a way to bounce back.

“TNT can turn it around in a heartbeat and find themselves in the finals easily. That’s a team that everybody’s got to be on,” he said.

The Ginebra mentor earlier praised Bol for his dominant performance against the Gin Kings, despite the loss.

Bol stood tall with 33 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, and three assists, not allowing himself to be limited by Ginebra’s big men and three-time PBA Best Import Justin Brownlee.

TNT and NLEX will open the quarterfinals action at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The twice-to-beat Ginebra will take on the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Friday, May 15, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. (ABS-CBN News)

Caption

TNT Tropang 5G’s Bol Bol in action against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup. (PBA Media photo)