Garcia steps up to save TNT KaTropa
TNT KaTropa mentor Nash Racela made it clear to his players that Kia is no pushover. Apparently, they didn’t listen, thinking the Picanto would be a walk in the park.
The KaTropa nearly got run over by their indifference.
But thanks to two big shots down the stretch by guard RR Garcia last night, the KaTropa escaped with a 90-85 win over lowly Picanto in the PBA Philippine Cup, keeping their reputation intact at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Garcia scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter punctuated by the two important baskets that allowed TNT to get back on the winning track and in contention for a twice-to-beat incentive in the crossover knockout quarterfinals.
Garcia eluded Glenn Khobuntin for a layup that gave TNT an 87-83 advantage, and after a missed shot by Kia’s Eric Camson, Garcia scored on a reverse layup to put the team ahead, 89-83, with 44 seconds left.
It was all TNT needed for a big exhale.
“A lot times yung problem starts with the expectations, people expect a blowout game (against Kia),” said Racela. “Me as a coach, I really was focusing on their (Kia) win against Rain or Shine.”
“As a team they are unpredictable and dangerous. I don’t think our players got that message. First, we were cruising along, second Kia really played well tonight. Coach Ricky Dandan made combinations that really surprised me. That gave us a hard time.”
TNT got solid contributions from veteran forward Kelly Williams, who scored 23 points on 11-of-18 from the floor, while guard Jayson Castro added 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench.
The win came four days after the team suffered a 91-83 defeat to Magnolia Pambansang Manok, and improved its record to 4-3.
With four games to play – against Phoenix Fuel (Feb. 7), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (Feb. 11), GlobalPort (Feb. 14) and NLEX (Feb. 28) – Racela likes his team’s chances of finishing in the top six.
Making it to the top two for a twiceto-beat incentive in the playoffs also is achievable.
But Racela wants it to take it one game at a time, especially with the possibility of losing three players in Castro, RR Pogoy and Troy Rosario, all members of Gilas Pilipinas, who will play in this month’s FIBA Asia qualifier against Australia and Japan.
“Wala naman kaming games during that week of qualifier,” said Racela, who missed the services of center Mo Tautuaa (food poisoning). “But if they need them for preparation, we’ll allow them.”
As for Kia, McCarthy led the team with 21 points while Jackson Corpus added 17 points. The loss dropped the Picanto to 1-6, absorbing their second setback after the win over Rain or Shine (98-94) last Jan. 20.