Henry Galinato admitted regretting TNT's Game 3 loss, but he stayed focused to help the TNT Tropang 5G recover in the next match and tie the best-of-seven PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals series last Wednesday, Jan. 28.
TNT big Henry Galinato wallowed in despair after suffering an 86-95 loss to San Miguel in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals last Sunday, Jan. 25.
Galinato nearly became the hero after finishing with an emphatic flush against June Mar Fajardo in a pick-and-roll play with Jordan Heading that gave the team an 89-86 lead inside the final minute.
But things quickly flipped from there.
Cjay Perez nailed a stepback four-pointer in Galinato's face. As if that was not enough, the SMB ace also drilled in a three-pointer against Calvin Oftana, before Marcio Lassiter canned two free throws for the win.
[WATCH: Cjay Perez cold-blooded in crunch as SMB wins Game 3 of Finals vs TNT | Fantastic Finish]
Galinato admitted to sulking that night. But his teammates helped him brush it off and go back to work the next day.
“They said it's just basketball. You know, it happens to the best of us,” said the 6-foot-5 banger, who wound up with six points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in Game 3.
“Cjay hit those shots. And you know he's a great basketball player, right? Great players make big-time shots, so credit to him.”
He added: “But, they were just telling me not to worry about it, just forget it, and I did. Sulked on it that night, but in the morning, it was out of my head already.”
Galinato and the rest of the Tropang 5G all moved on from that loss, resulting in the series-tying 110-87 victory in Game 4.
He came off the bench to contribute six points, five rebounds, an assist, a steal and two blocks in 19 minutes of play.
[RELATED STORY: Cjay Perez rues SMB’s lack of effort, energy in Game 4 loss to TNT: 'Sobrang sama']
“It's a great feeling. We're just following the game plan. Just stick to the plan, and we just made it work," Galinato said.
“Coach Chot didn't let us practice relaxed. We came in very hard; how we came in at practice, coming into the game. That intensity carried over from practice.”
Galinato and Co. will shoot for the pivotal 3-2 edge when they clash anew with June Mar Fajardo-led San Miguel in Game 5 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Friday, Jan. 30.
Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.