AS THEY GEAR UP for their PBA grand slam bid, the TNT Tropang 5G are drawing extra motivation from the need to prove their worth.
Their big challenge — capture the final piece of a coveted golden treble in the Philippine Cup without Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the heart and soul of their back-to-back triumphs in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup.
“People are saying that, you know, the only reason why we’re winning all these championships is because of Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson). Yes, that’s true, but all this talk has to stop and that these guys are still capable of winning without Rondae,” team manager Jojo Lastimosa said.
“And this is something that they have to prove. They need to come together and talk about it like ‘hey, you know we have to show that we can win without Rondae’ and this is the biggest opportunity for them to show (that).”
One more big shoe to fill is that of ace playmaker Jayson Castro, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the Commissioner’s Cup semis.
For that, the team is relying anew on Rey Nambatac, who has risen to the occasion and even delivered a Finals MVP-winning performance to help TNT beat Ginebra in seven games.
“If Rey was just a ‘mediocre Rey,’ no way we can win that series,” said Mr. Lastimosa.
Ahead of their All-Filipino campaign, the Tropang 5G signed up free agent Simon Enciso to boost their backcourt.
“Simon’s a hard worker and we know that he can make threes which is really important in our system,” he said.
The Chot Reyes-coached squad opened its training camp on Monday at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, where they will hold six practices over three days.
After a break on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the Tropang 5G go back to work to get themselves ready for their Philippine Cup debut on April 23 against NLEX.
Notes: Larry Muyang accepted the indefinite suspension the PBA slapped on him but intends to exercise his right to appeal it before the board of governors. Mr. Muyang was banned for violation of the Uniform Players’ Contract after joining Pampanga in the MPBL amid a live contract with Phoenix until May. According to Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, who accompanied Mr. Muyang in his meeting with commissioner Willie Marcial last Sunday, the 6-foot-5 player will try to mend fences with Phoenix and ask the PBA board to reconsider. — Olmin Leyba
