The TNT Tropang 5G faced quite a lot of adversity in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup. The team even fell to the eighth seed for the quarterfinals as the Tropa struggled with injuries to key players and encountered difficulties adjusting to Bol Bol.
Still Something to Be Proud Of
Yet TNT came just one win away from capturing the championship, only losing in a tough Game 7 against Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. It isn’t the result TNT Nation wanted, but Jordan Heading is mighty proud nonetheless.
“I think it was a really difficult conference for us, it was really heavy, so I was really proud that you know we battled,” Heading told Rebanse after TNT succumbed to Ginebra, 88-76, in Game 7 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“We won that twice to beat [disadvantage against the NLEX Road Warriors], lost Bol, won an All-Filipino game in the playoffs, and made it here in the Finals but just wasn’t enough,” he added.
Heading Rues Mistakes in Game 7
Part of the reason TNT’s effort wasn’t enough on Wednesday, according to Heading, was the Tropa making mistakes in a game where there’s little margin for error. But he stressed that the Tropa gave it all, and that they simply lost to a great team.
“I mean just a few mistakes. Games like this you can’t have really [those mistakes]. We really tried our hardest but it’s a hell of a team, man…we just gave everything that we have,” said the sweet-shooting lefty, who averaged 16.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across seven games in the Finals.
Back to the Drawing Board
Now, as far as the Fil-Aussie guard is concerned, the first order of business is to get some rest and then go back to the drawing board.
“Just get back to the drawing board, get some rest, and hopefully we come back ready to work next conference and try to get it again,” he said.
Heading and the rest of the Tropa will have a few weeks to rest and prepare for the PBA Governors’ Cup. It is the league’s season-ending tournament, and it will kick off in July.
