Coach Chot Reyes offered to supply facts relatively than clap back at those doubting TNT’s capability of winning one other PBA title—the third this season to finish a Grand Slam—without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“I believe I’m tied with [San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria] for probably the most variety of all-Filipino championships amongst energetic coaches, right?” Reyes, who has won the Philippine Cup six times, asked. “That answers your query.”
The mercurial coach simply gave his take, as critics have been quick to say that the Tropang 5G’s previous titles were due solely through the abilities and skills of Hollis-Jefferson.
RHJ, due to his brilliance, already has three Best Import awards and has put TNT on the cusp of completing what would only be the league’s sixth Triple Crown sweep.
“Asa sa import (import-dependent)” was the common theme amongst basketball pages anticipating views and engagement and netizens on social media, especially early within the Philippine Cup when TNT opened 0-3.
But Reyes and his gang would turn things around, clinch a playoff spot, overcame Magnolia’s twice-to-beat advantage within the quarters and beat Rain or Shine anew within the semis behind a group of stars and role players.
Fringe players
“One thing we all the time stress is that it takes a team effort to win these games,” Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser told the Inquirer. “We had some guys coming out and in with injuries and who’s gonna play.”
“But I do know anybody who gets the chance is gonna be ready.”
Jordan Heading and Ganuelas-Rosser shone within the playoffs, while fringe players like Kim Aurin and Brian Heruela had their share of invaluable contributions.
After which there are the standard mainstays like Calvin Oftana, Poy Erram and Glenn Khobuntin manning things, as TNT got this far even while missing RR Pogoy and Kelly Williams in key stretches and with Rey Nambatac and Jayson Castro not on the playoff roster.
Depth would be the deciding think about the Finals that features the celebrities like Oftana, Heading and Pogoy if he finally returns from his hamstring injury, for TNT and June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez for San Miguel.
The Beermen, on paper, hold the advantage by way of talent and manpower, with Game 7 against Barangay Ginebra within the semifinals, where Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano and Rodney Brondial stepping up and Chris Ross flashing his old form on each ends being an important example.
Playing a task
Mo Tautuaa can even provide the complimentary role for Fajardo within the shaded lane while the likes of Kris Rosales and Jeron Teng might be rabbits out of Austria’s deep hat.
“We work hard in that second group,” Tautuaa also told the Inquirer. “After we come on the market, we don’t need to kinda lose our lead, or anything like that. We wish to proceed to push, work hard and be effective in that situation.
“So it’s about bringing that next stage from the second group.”
San Miguel is aiming to attract first blood in its own mission to regain its place as kingpin of an important conference of the season, serving as a minor backdrop to TNT’s Grand Slam quest.
“We’ve been within the all-Filipino Finals for a lot of the last eight to 10 years and everybody expects us to be here” said Austria before claiming the underdog label.
“We’re probably not that strong a team but we still enjoy that label. So we’ll play as much as that label.”