DEFENDING champion TNT eked out a crucial win over Magnolia in Game 3 by the skin of its teeth. Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes expects nothing but another dogfight with the Hotshots tonight.
“It’s going to take a total team effort to get two more wins. It’s going to be much harder,” Reyes said.
“We both got a couple of days off before Game 4, so we’ll see how we will be able to take advantage of that recovery period, but I expect it to be tougher,” he added.
TNT tries to move closer to the semis when it battles Magnolia anew in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The game is set at 6 p.m. after San Miguel Beer also tries to take a commanding 3-1 series lead against Meralco at 3 o’clock.
The Tropang Giga nipped the Hotshots 93-92 on a last-gasp three-pointer by Jayson Castro three days ago.
“The blessing I have as a coach is that for these guys, it does not matter if they’re veterans or established players. It does not matter who’s playing. They don’t worry who’s playing, they don’t worry about playing time or possessions or touches,” Reyes said. “They’re just ready and have the full trust sa coaching staff that we know what we’re doing.”
The likes of Castro, Mikey Williams, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, JP Erram, Glenn Khobuntin, and Kelly Williams will be counted upon anew by TNT to deliver.
Magnolia will rely on Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, and Calvin Abueva.
SMB is bidding to score a big follow-up to its 96-91 triumph over the Bolts in Game 3 last Sunday.
But Beermen tactician Leo Austria insisted his team needs to be ready against an expected fightback from Meralco.
“Alam naman natin na in a series especially against coach Norman (Black) and Meralco, this is a game of adjustments. We will try our best to anticipate what kind of adjustment they will make,” Austria said.
“We have to polish our defense dahil nakaka-score pa rin sila (Meralco.) At least sana, iyong mga easy shots nila hindi na mangyari especially marami silang offensive rebounds and that’s one of our problems.”
Chris Newsome, Aaron Black, Allein Maliksi, Cliff Hodge, Bong Quinto, Raymond Almazan, and Chris Banchero will carry the fight for the Bolts.
