MUCH of TNT’s offense has revolved around the likes of Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac so far in the season-ending tourney.
Gunner Roger Pogoy took his turn last Sunday night for the grand slam-seeking Tropang Giga, helping the team to a big win over the defending champions Meralco Bolts.
“Coming to this game, focus palagi sa akin, depensa lang talaga. Susunod lang iyong offense,” Pogoy said after TNT overwhelmed Meralco 101-84 for its third straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“Ilan games na nga, ilan lang iyong points ko. Basta focus ko, depensa. So, grateful, blessed na pumapasok iyong mga tira ko. Basta every game, defense talaga iyong focus,” he added.
The 6-foot-2 Pogoy sizzled with a season-high 34 points, 16 of them coming in the payoff period, built around five three-pointers and four, to go with three rebounds.
Pogoy, 32, said TNT coach Chot Reyes took him to task for a turnover—an errant pass in the second quarter—that he used as motivation to redeem himself.
“Naramdaman ko noong pinagalitan ako ni coach kasi iyong pasa ko sobrang lakas so kailangan kong bumawi. Kailangan ko maging leader as a beterano sa team,” Pogoy said. “May ginagawa Ako na mali. Hindi, iniisip ko kasi talaga pasa doon kasi alam kong dino-double ako pero mali iyong technique ko.
“Tapos iyon, pinagalitan ako ni coach, sinabihan ako ano ba iyong ginagawa mo. Then pumasok sa isip ko na pagpasok ako ulit, babawi talaga ako. Iyon, tuloy-tuloy na.”
With the Tropang 5G gaining momentum in their drive for the coveted treble, Pogoy said he and fellow veteran scorers Oftana and Nambatac should show the way.
“Kailangan ipakita sa mga bago kung paano maglaro ng tama. Hindi iyong first three games namin. Ako nga, beterano ako pero nagbuwa-buwakaw ako so iyon sumusunod din sila Calvin and Rey,” he said.
“Sinabihan din kami ni coach. Sabi ko nga magi-start sa amin ni Rey, Calvin, ako kasi mas matagal iyong bola sa amin so ginagawa lang namin iyon tama. Maganda iyong result, naging tatlong sunod na panalo.”
