TNT sees schedule changes in return to action

TNT will be immediately battling Rain Or Shine in its return to play after some player's COVID-19 scare. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--TNT will be swinging back to action in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday after the entire team went into underwent COVID-19 isolation protocols after some of its members tested positive for the virus.

However, the team will be facing a different opponent in its comeback game.

The PBA announced on Tuesday that the Tropang Giga will face the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Initially scheduled to battle NLEX in the nightcap of the Friday triple-header, TNT will be playing in the second game instead against ROS at 3 p.m. of the said day.

The showdown between the Tropang Giga and the Elasto Painters would come two days in advance as they were initially scheduled to face off on Sunday.

Instead, TNT will take on NorthPort in the first game of the Sunday triple-header at 2 p.m. and ROS will battle Terrafirma in the nightcap at 7 p.m.

San Miguel and Ginebra will still face off in the second game at 4:35 p.m.

In effect, the initially scheduled clash between the Batang Pier and the Magnolia Hotshots has been postponed.

Meanwhile, NorthPort's Friday match against Ginebra will now be the third game of the triple-header at 6 p.m.

This will be both team's first match-up since swapping Christian Standhardinger for Greg Slaughter during the offseason.

The PBA will announce the new dates of the TNT-NLEX and NorthPort-Magnolia games at a later time.

On the other hand, the three games scheduled for Wednesday will push through as they should.

San Miguel guns for its third straight win against slumping Blackwater at 12:30 p.m., ROS battles Alaska at 3 p.m., and Phoenix takes on Meralco at 6 p.m.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno