A RETURN trip to the championship round beckons for TNT. The Tropang Giga can wrap up their best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series with a win against the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots today, August 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

For the Meralco Bolts, it will be an opportunity to finally take the upper hand as they have figured out a way to beat the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen.

Today’s Game Five of the best-of-seven semifinals series provide contrast, yet bring the same level of excitement for fans.

The defending champion Tropang Giga are now within striking distance of bolstering their title retention bid following a dominant performance in Game Four last Wednesday.

In Game Four, Mikey Williams had another slow start after being held scoreless, but the rest of the Tropang Giga were able to take control of the game even when their top gun was grounded.

But with players like JP Erram and Glenn Khobuntin, who were normally tasked to do the dirty job stepping up in offense, and RR Pogoy taking over in offense when needed, the Tropang Giga were able to find ways to compensate for the early struggles of Williams.

Erram was a picture of consistency on both ends of the court, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Pogoy held the fort in offense in the early goings, scoring 15 of his 18 markers in the first half, then Khobuntin knocked in all of his nine points in the third period that sparked a breakaway by TNT.

“First, we just looked at whatever defensive adjustments we can make, how they’re scoring against us,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

“The focus was in two folds — to make stops, our defensive fundamentals, and I think that was really important. Offensively, we just limited our turnovers and made good shots. These guys, our players, were ready. Our preparation isn’t only mental, but physical and emotional.”

Then, when it’s money time, there’s Williams ready to preside.

The reigning scoring champion and last season’s Philippine Cup Finals MVP drilled 12 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, as the Tropang Giga put away their rivals for good.

Meralco, on the other hand, decided to cut down the production of San Miguel’s supporting cast and that created a huge imbalance in the firepower of the usually explosive Beermen.

Chris Ross was held scoreless, Mo Tautuaa went without a field goal all game long and it took Jericho Cruz quite some time before scoring his first basket in the game, leaving the brunt of the offense on the shoulders of Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez and six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.

But it wasn’t just Meralco’s defensive game that maimed the Beermen in Game Four.

The Bolts shot 56-percent from the field (40-of-71) and scored 36 firstquarter points, the most made in the series by either team.

The series is tied at 2-all.