TITLE-less and failing to get past the quarterfinals last season should serve as a big motivation for defending champion TNT.
With the pro league’s reigning best import back in their fold, the Tropang Giga begin their redemption drive when they take on the NorthPort Batang Pier tonight in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is set at 7:30 p.m. after the curtain-raiser pitting Blackwater and Rain or Shine at 5 o’clock.
The Chot Reyes-mentored TNT acquired prolific playmaker Rey Nambatac from the Bossing for Kib Montalbo, Jewel Ponferada, and a second-round pick in the 53rd season, signed rookie CJ Payawal and former stars of its 3×3 play team in Chris Exciminiano and Almond Vosotros.
More importantly, the Tropang Giga linked up with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the season-opening tilt.
The naturalized Jordanian gunner guided TNT to the Promised Land of the same edition of the tourney opposite Ginebra last year.
Aside from Hollis-Jefferson, the likes of Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and veterans Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams will be counted upon to deliver.
NorthPort will draw strength from reinforcement Taylor Johns and locals Arvin Tolentino, William Navarro, and Joshua Munzon, with new addition Jio Jalalon (knee), Paul Zamar (ACL), and Fran Yu (hand) out due to injuries.
“We’re very happy with our pre-season preparations,” Elasto Painters tactician Yeng Guiao said. “We feel we’ve been upgraded with our materials, our line-up, mas maganda from the last conference. Very happy with our rookies. We’ve seen what they can do in practice.
“We did not think that they could blend in really quick. But so far, they’ve been blending well with the (other) guys,” he added.
Rain or Shine tapped Aaron Fuller, who previously played for Guiao at NLEX, to backstop the squad bannered by young guns Gian Mamuyac, Leonard Santillan, Andrei Caracut, Jhonard Clarito, Adrian Nocum, and blue-chip freshmen Caelan Tiongson, Felix Lemetti, and Francis Escandor.
Blackwater strategist Jeffrey Cariaso, who will bank on Troy Rosario, Rey Suerte, Justin Chua, JVee Casio, and No. 2 pick overall Sedrick Barefield, is convinced his troops can hack it.
“Looking forward to this conference. Excited, happy, maganda iyong feeling ng mga boys,” he said. “They’ve been practicing hard, practicing well, maganda naman performance namin sa mga tune-up games.
“Sana mag-carry over sa actual games.”
