2 weeks Ago By N/A (Reynald I. Magallon)
Talk of a Grand Slam is certainly inevitable for TNT after winning the first two of the three crown jewels of the PBA Season 49, and as much as head coach Chot Reyes wanted to discuss it, all eyes are surely focused on the Tropang 5G.“I guess it couldn't be avoided at this point. I acknowledge that fact now,” said Reyes.
RR Pogoy is expected to get a heavier role in the absence of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the PBA Philippine Cup. (PBA Images)TNT won the Governors’ Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup both against Barangay Ginebra, needing six games to bag the first championship and then seven for the second title.While they are in a prime position to make history, Reyes said it would be a lot harder now.
“There's going to be tremendous pressure on us. There's going to be a huge target on our backs,” said Reyes.“Of course, 11 other teams are going to do their darn best to stop us,” he added.
The biggest problem, however, for the Tropang 5G at this point, is their firepower with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – the Best Import of the last two conferences TNT had won – not going to play in the all-Filipino conference and Jayson Castro expected to miss out the entirety of the tournament.TNT still has Finals Most Valuable Player Rey Nambatac along with stars Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Game 7 hero Glenn Khobuntin, Poy Erram and veteran Kelly Williams and Reyes expects his squad to plod on just how they managed to overcome adversities during their recent title run.“As you can see, we don't really have the best talent.
We really don't have the deepest bench. But there's something in our players. They just refuse to quit,” said Reyes whose TNT went down 2-3 in the best-of-seven affair.
“That's what we're going to bring into this next conference. I've learned all through my life that if you work hard, you put yourself in a good chance that good things will happen. It's not a guarantee, but at least you put yourself in a good position,” added the now 11-time coach.
Reyes and TNT first came close at winning the Grand Slam back in 2012 but they were denied by Petron, now San Miguel. Regardless, the veteran mentor is expecting his wards to fight for it, not necessarily for the Grand Slam but for another chance at winning a championship.“That's what we've done.
With this victory, we have put ourselves in that position. You can bet that we're going to come out and work even harder and try our best,’ said Reyes.“Not necessarily to capture the Grand Slam, but because there's another tournament, another competition in front of us.
That's what we're going to aim for,” he furthered..
