GAMES TODAY
(EAC Sports and Cultural Center)
11 a.m. – Lyceum vs. San Sebastian
1 p.m. – Arellano vs. JRU
THE stern and strict coach that he is, a breakthrough win will certainly not leave TNT tactician Chot Reyes at ease.
“I don’t think we’re on a high. We pride ourselves on our team to keep an even keel. We’re satisfied,” Reyes said. “But we’re going to go back and have a good, strong, hard three practices to prepare for Terrafirma.
“We had three straight days of really good, focused practice to get ready for Terrafirma,” he added.
Whether the Tropang 5G can show they are not letting their guards down will be known when they square off with the Terrafirma Dyip today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 5 p.m. before the duel pitting defending champion Meralco and NorthPort at 7:30 p.m.
The grand slam-seeking TNT quintet nipped San Miguel Beer 89-84 last Sunday to improve to 1-3 in the season-ending tilt.
Reyes will rely anew on Calvin Oftana, Rey Nambatac, Roger Pogoy, JP Erram, Simon Enciso, and Kelly Williams.
Terrafirma has lost four in a row, counting a 94-127 beating at the hands of the pacesetting Magnolia Hotshots also last Sunday.
The Dyip will pin their hopes on Louie Sangalang, Stanley Pringle, Kevin Ferrer, Aldrech Ramos, and Aljun Melecio in their bid to snap their skid.
Reyes is also leaning on Enciso to deliver again like he did against his former team.
“That’s the reason we got him. We need an extra shooter from the outside as well as a backup point guard for Rey. But Rey hasn’t been playing well in the first three games. So, we decided to start Simon and give Rey a different look. Balasa, ika nga,” he said. “So, we took him off the bench. Rey scored 15 points, was plus-20.
“I think he was negative 40 in the first three games combined. But now he’s plus 20. So, I guess that coming off the bench helped him. Hopefully, Rey regains his footing just like the rest of the guys, like the rest of the players.”
The nightcap’s tiff offers a chance for the protagonists to check an identical three-game slide.
The Bolts lost to the Beermen (98-110), the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (97-109) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (116-128).
Ditto with the Batang Pier who fell to Rain or Shine (96-113), Blackwater (98-120) and Ginebra (106-131), with gunner Arvin Tolentino sitting out due to a right hip flexor injury.
With the eliminations nearing their halfway point, now is the time for the squads to make their moves.
