One big reason the TNT Tropang 5G are back in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is Jordan Heading picking up his game, culminating in a 30-point masterpiece and the game-winner that secured the Tropa’s 97-94 win over the Meralco Bolts in Game 6.
Jordan Heading Has Caught Fire
Heading’s explosive Game 6 followed a 15-point showing in Game 4 and a 22-point outing in Game 5. In that three-game stretch, the former Gilas Pilipinas guard also shot 12-for-21 from beyond the arc after struggling from that distance nearly all conference long.
That three-game stretch curiously coincided with Chris McCullough returning to the PBA to replace the injured Bol Bol. However, it might not be a coincidence at all that Heading is excelling alongside CMac.
McCullough Letting the Tropa Cook
Actually, it appears McCullough is one big reason Heading has caught fire of late for TNT. That’s because he is actively letting the Tropa play their game—even as he himself is trying to adjust to the TNT system and balance being assertive and deferring to his talented teammates.
“I’m just trying to adjust the best way I can, to be comfortable out there just playing my game, but also allowing my teammates to play their game and not shy away from it,” McCullough told Rebanse in an exclusive interview.
CMac, who is a PBA champion himself like most of the Tropang 5G, has also made it clear that he is the one adjusting to the Tropa and not the other way around. And that is why he constantly encourages his teammates to play their game.
“They welcomed me in, so the adjustment was pretty comfortable, pretty easy for me,” McCullough added. “And like I said, just allowing the guys to play within their flow, me not messing up the team chemistry they already have, just me still learning on the hop…”
Heading has gotten into a flow, all right, and McCullough is starting to look like the champion he once was.
This could be scary hours, indeed, for TNT—but in a good way.
