The TNT Tropang 5G are a win away from making it to the PBA Finals once again after demolishing the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 4 on Wednesday. Per usual, the Tropa did it with yet another superb team effort, and at the forefront of it all were their bigs—Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Poy Erram, and even Henry Galinato Jr.
Ganuelas-Rosser was particularly impressive, notching 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Erram, meanwhile, finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks and played a starring role in the Tropa’s backbreaking third quarter, where he scored 4 points and corralled 4 boards. Galinato, filling in for an injured Kelly Williams, added 8 points and 4 boards for good measure.
Bouncing Back After Getting Punked
It was a huge effort no doubt—and a lot of it, according to Ganuelas-Rosser, was all about just being tougher, especially after Rain or Shine’s undesized frontcourt got the better of them in Game 3. In that game, Ganuelas-Rosser, Erram, and Williams were outscored by Caelan Tiongson, 16 to 14, and outrebounded by Keith Datu, 10 to 9. Even Leonard Santillan, on his own, nearly outplayed TNT’s main bigs after putting up 12 points and 8 rebounds.
Needless to say, Ganuelas-Rosser and company were determined not to get punked again in Game 4. And TNT coach Chot Reyes made sure they got the message.
“It was a collective effort. Yesterday and today [Monday and Tuesday], coach really challenged us. Before the game he said, ‘Toughness’—and that’s all that was,” Ganuelas-Rosser told reporters postgame. “We just had to be tougher. Last game, particularly our unit, the bigs, we kinda got embarrassed. Our manhood was kinda challenged. I took it personal, so today I just wanted to make sure I was available, play tough, be active but be smart, and make sure to protect my fouls, especially in the first half.”
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser Steps Up Big Time
From the looks of it, no one took that Game 3 letdown more personal than Ganuelas-Rosser, whose 20-point double-double was a nice complement to Jordan Heading’s do-it-all masterpiece (23 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists). Equally important, BGR kept his cool even with the Elasto Painters’ sometimes over-the-top physicality that included Adrian Nocum fouling Ganuelas-Rosser hard once again and Jhonard Clarito elbowing the big man in the midsection away from the ball.
An unfocused BGR would’ve retaliated or done something to get thrown out. Not this time. Not with the big man realizing his now immense role in TNT’s Grand Slam chase.
“When I’m available to the team, I just feel like a I can help in many ways. I just have to be out there on the court,” added Ganuelas-Rosser, who already got thrown out once this Philippine Cup after elbowing Barangay Ginebra San Miguel forward Troy Rosario in the jaw. “They’re [Rain or Shine] gonna do what they need to do to try and get in my head, but I’ll just try my best not to let them. Just play the game.”
Play the game he did in Game 4, and the result was no doubt his best outing in a TNT jersey. His fellow big men—Erram and Galinato—evidently took the cue, got tough, and punished Rain or Shine, too.
