For much of this PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Chot Reyes has lamented his locals’ uneven play. On Wednesday, RR Pogoy and his fellow veterans made sure to step up when it mattered most.
Led by Pogoy, Jayson Castro, and Calvin Oftana, the Tropa hacked out a thrilling 96-93 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors to extend their conference to a do-or-die Game 2 on Saturday.
Pogoy, Other Veterans Take Responsibility
Between them, the three veteran champions combined for 49 big points on 15-for-29 shooting. Each also had his moments. Oftana carried TNT in the second quarter with three treys. Pogoy came alive in the third. Castro hit a huge triple down the stretch.
For Pogoy, it was exactly as planned. “’Yun nga, pinag-usapan namin na kung gusto naming umusad sa next level, kailangan talagang mag-step up kaming lahat…,” Pogoy told reporters after the game. “Kailangang akuhin namin ang responsibilidad. Buti na lang gumana tonight.”
He is right. TNT badly needed the veterans to step up against an in-form NLEX squad that did not falter even with its best players—Cady Lalanne and Robert Bolick—saddled with foul trouble all game long. That is why every point from Pogoy, Castro, and Oftana mattered.
Just as Needed, Says Chot Reyes
The veterans’ heroics were not lost on TNT coach Chot Reyes, who acknowledged that the Tropa’s chances of winning dramatically rise when the locals play well.
“I think this is the first game the whole conference that those three other guys were in double figures. Hindi magsabay-sabay na maganda ang laro ni Calvin, Roger, and Jayson, who are really our three bets, our three mainstays,” Reyes said. “This is the first time the three of them got off to a double-figure output, so as long as we can get that help around Bol [Bol], then we can give ourselves better chances of winning.”
Bol was not too shabby himself, putting up 34 points on top of 14 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Only this time, he was not alone. Pogoy, Castro, and Oftana made sure of it.
