The TNT Tropang 5G had it all wrong in their first three games in the PBA Philippine Cup, but finally found the solution Sunday night.
TNT had not looked like the same team that won back-to-back championships so far this season three games into the PBA Philippine Cup.
But when the Tropang 5G realized that they did not need to force themselves to be the same squad, which boasted of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and veteran star Jayson Castro, great things followed.
This mindset worked wonders as TNT escaped with an 89-84 breakthrough over San Miguel in the nightcap of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup double-header at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Sunday, May 4.
“Before the game, I told the players, 'Maybe we have it all wrong. Maybe we we’re trying to find the old TNT game.' We’re talking about why we can’t do this, why we can’t do that in our first three games,” said Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes as his wards ended a three-game misery.
“Until we realized we can’t go back to the old TNT game. Because this is a vastly different team without Jayson, without RHJ.”
Calvin Oftana responded big time, posting a whopping double-double of 23 points and 21 rebounds. He also had six assists.
Backing up Oftana are Rey Nambatac (15 points and five assists), RR Pogoy (14 markers and six boards) and former Beerman Simon Enciso (13 points on three triples).
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Enciso haunted his old team, his final dagger coming in an open left-corner triple that gave the Tropang 5G a six-point separation, 86-80, with 49 seconds remaining.
In the ensuing play, SMB gunner Marcio Lassiter broke free from Kelly Williams’ defense for the layup.
But Pogoy handed the Beermen their second loss in five games as he uncorked a three-pointer in the opposite corner to seal it with 13.4 ticks to go.
“I told the players before the game, 'Let’s play our game with the players in this room, with who we have,'” Reyes said.
“I think that simple realization worked wonders with the way they played tonight. I just told the players, 'Let’s write our own story and, hopefully, this is the first step.”
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Meanwhile, Cjay Perez paced San Miguel with 26 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
June Mar Fajardo churned out 21 points, 14 rebounds and two assists, while Juami Tiongson shot five triples for 15 points.
TNT vs San Miguel Scores:
TNT 89 – Oftana 23, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 14, Enciso 13, Williams 12, Khobuntin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Razon 0, Aurin 0.
SAN MIGUEL 84 – Perez 26, Fajardo 21, Tiongson 15, Lassiter 14, Cruz 6, Brondial 2, Ross 0, Tautuaa 0, Cahilig 0, Trollano 0, Teng 0, Rosales 0.
Quarterscores: 26-26, 44-39, 71-62, 89-84.