TNT TNT TNT TTT TTT TTT TTT ROGER POGOY AND CALVIN OFTA During match 1 of the PBA Commissioner Cup. –Marlo Cueto / Inquirer.net
Finals of the pba – ginebra vs tnt planning commissioner cup
Friday evening, for about five minutes tense, TNT looked stuck, uncomfortable under the lights of the final of Commissioner PBA. Then Roger Pogoy started.
Three three consecutive points of Pogoy came out of his funk, helping the team shaking an early collapse and taking control of match 1 against Barangay Ginebra. By the final buzzer, Pogoy had collected 15 points, second just behind Importae Hollis-Jefferson 34, while TNT won a 95-89 victory at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The base of victory, however, was laid well before the opening council.
“It’s great that we were able to train here yesterday,” said Pogoy, creating a shooting session at the end of the evening with the Almond Vosotros and Ping Expiminiano teammates.
Read: PBA finals: Tim cone, ginebra “ tired ” to be ahead, has surpassed
Even before that, confidence seeds had been planted earlier in the week. On Tuesday, Pogoy and a few team staff visited Jayson Castro in Guagua, Pampenga, where the pillar of the injured TNT offered a simple but resonant message: “Do not be afraid. Just play your game.
This encouragement carried the game, Pogoy, Calvin oftana and Rey Nambatac occurring to intervene in the absence of Castro. “We said to ourselves that we cannot afford to have a bad match. We really need it, ”said Pogoy.
Experimental rotations
Roger Pogoy (Let) TNT’s Breakaway against Barangay Genebra in match 1.
The strategy worked. TNT’s hot shooting – 14 three points, twice as much as Ginebra – did the team to build an 18 -point lead at its peak. Hollis-Jefferson, who collected 23 points in the first half, provided the interior presence, while the Pogoy shooting opened the ground.
Ginebra, however, refused to go there quietly.
Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson both delivered double doubles, and head coach Tim Cone has experienced different rotations, notably giving prolonged minutes to Jeremiah Gray in the fourth quarter. But their efforts were not enough to erase the example of TNT.
“I am a little tired of saying that we were surpassed and surpassed,” admitted cone after the match. “We were able to change the story.”
Maintain the momentum
It will be the goal before match 2 on Sunday. Ginebra will have to find a way to slow down Hollis-Jefferson, to disturb the shooting of the DTT perimeter and to obtain more production of key players. Troy Rosario, Jamie Malonzo and RJ Abarrief have all had difficulties offensively, and the Gin Kings will need contributions to all levels to level the series.
For TNT, the challenge will be to maintain its momentum.
“We must be better,” said Hollis-Jefferson, distrustful of Ginebra’s ability to adapt. “(We must) Do not drop the lead, not let these mental failures take control of the game.”
TNT head coach Chot Reyes stressed the importance of effort. “They really work doubly to make the task difficult for the other team. We know how powerful this team is offensively, “he said.
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The series resumes Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, TNT seeking to tighten its grip on the championship while Ginebra aims to return the script.
