TNT faces streaking Mahindra
Games Today (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:15 p.m. - Mahindra vs TNT 7 p.m. - Phoenix vs NLEX
TNT KaTropa head coach Nash Racela has thrown a challenge to his team: Change or perish. The change he is seeking is in the players’ attitude which he has found to be wanting after KaTropa was easily beaten by the Star Hotshots last Sunday, 90-77, that put their quarterfinal bid in peril.
The loss put them in a tie from fifth to ninth place with four other teams at 4-4, and, with just a few games left before the playoffs, TNT’s game against Mahindra at 4:15 p.m. today has become not only important but probably a must-win encounter.
Racela did not go into detail regarding TNT’s struggles, although he
LUBAO, Pampanga — Team Southeast Asia completed its conquest of the country’s best amateur golfers yesterday, winning the singles competition easily, 6.5-3.5, en route to a 19.5-10.5 overall rout of the local opposition.
The tournament was supposed to give some light on the progress of women’s golf, instead the results showed far behind Philippine golf in comparison with its neighbors.
Team SEA led from the opening day of the Ryder Cup-style tournament spread over three days at the newly-opened Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga where the two teams competed in four balls, foursomes and singles.
Six points up after the fourball and foursomes in the first two days, the visiting squad cut short the hosts’ early charge in the final round, coming admitted that he had been sometimes harsh in calling out his players in the hope of ending the struggle.
“From day one, I’ve been telling them that there has to be changes,” Racela said after the loss to the Hotshots. “I’ve been calling out their attention.”
Racela is now finding for himself how vastly different college basketball is from the PBA. He had joined the team after a stellar stint with Far Eastern University where he won a UAAP title and a runner up finish, presiding over a Tamaraws team where he never had to deal with egos and players who think of themselves as privileged stars.
He was tapped to handle TNT after its previous coach Jong Uichico was fired at the start of the conference and he assumed the post a few games after the Philippine Cup kicked off. back from 1-3 down in head-to-head matches by taking five of the last six while halving the other to complete a whopping 19 1/2-10 1/2 rout.
“We learned a lot in this event. Some of my Thai players were actually first timers to play in a Ryder Cup format. But all the girls were excited to gain new friends,” saidTeam SEA co-captain Phunumpa Pornperapan, whose squad composed of national players from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia dominated their Filipina counterparts in all three days.
They took control, 7-3, in the first day then hiked their lead to 13-7 in the second round and needed just 2 1/2 points in the singles to clinch the duel.
“I’m happy it was a successful tournament. Both teams gave their best,” said Lubao Mayor Mylyn PinedaCayabyab, who put up the event with
As new coach, Racela probably instituted some changes to team structure and play and the players are still adjusting resulting to a .500 record, unusual for a team of TNT’s caliber and below teams such as Globalport and Blackwater.
Not helping the KaTropa’s cause is the possibility of the Phoenix Fuel Masters winning its game against the NLEX Road Warriors at 7 p.m. A win will put Phoenix in a tie for fourth place with Blackwater, which last Sunday stunned Alaska, 103-100.
For TNT, ending its two-game skid, which began with a Jan. 6 defeat to NLEX in Angeles City, Pampanga, will not be an easy task as it faces Mahindra, a team on a mission following back-to-back victories after five straight losses. Archen Cayabyab and coach Norman Sto. Domingo. “Expect a bigger challenge next year.”
The young Filipinas actually put up a strong fight in the early going, with Mikha Fortuna, Pauline del Rosario and Bernice Ilas hacking out a 2&1, 3&1 and 2&1 decisions over Thais Kan Bunnabodee, Atthaya Thitikul and Tunrada Piddon, respectively, after Malaysian Qistina Azhar toppled Mika Arroyoa, 3&2, in the opening match.
But Team SEA imposed its will in all but one of the last six faceoffs with Thai Onkanok Soisuwan defeating club bet Annyka Cayabyab, 5&3, and Michela Tjan of Indonesia securing the crown with a 3&1 victory over Sofia Chabon.