WILL TNT be able to summon one last big push amid the injury bug in an all-important and possible semifinals clincher?
Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes hopes so.
“I’m only concerned if we have enough men because we’re falling like flies. We lost Kelly (Williams) and Calvin (Oftana) as well, but just as it’s been since day one, not only this conference but the entire season,” Reyes said. “It’s just whoever we have, next man up.
“So for me, going into the next game, that’s my only concern is who do we have and how can I make the best use out of whoever it is that we have left,” he added.
Reyes’ worries came on the heels of TNT’s 108-92 rout of Rain or Shine in Game 4 of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-7 semifinals clash last Wednesday night.
The win enabled the grand slam-seeking Tropang 5G to build a 3-1 edge in the highly physical series.
Reyes said injuries are inevitable but how his other players will step up should spell the big difference, like in the fourth match where the likes of shock troopers Glenn Khobuntin, JP Erram, Henry Galinato Jr., Kim Aurin, and Almond Vosotros combined for 45 points.
“Like I said, next man up. There’s nothing we can do. Injuries are part of the game. That’s why we prepare our team as hard as we can for eventualities like this,” Reyes said.
“We don’t want it to happen, but we know that’s part of the game.”
Despite nursing a sprained left ankle, Oftana vowed to suit up in Game 5 set for today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as the Tropang 5G are determined more than ever to finish off the feisty Elasto Painters.
“Namaga na siya,” he said of his ankle. “Pero OKay lang iyan, malayo naman sa bituka. Knowing Rain or Shine, iyong fighting spirit nila nandiyan palagi.
“Dikdikan na ito. Wala ng kailangan na i-rason na masakit ito. Kapag kaya pa, igapang mo na.
“Nasimulan na ito. Tapusin na natin.”
Oftana is hoping the last line of his sentence will be a reality when all the dust settles tonight.
