Tropa try to build on Game 1 escape act, go for 2-0 lead

TNT barely pulled through in Game 1 but nonetheless took the crucial series head start and some good vibes going to the next game of the PBA Season 47 Philippine Cup Finals.

Even with coach Chot Reyes away with Gilas Pilipinas in Beirut, the Tropang Giga will try to build on their 86-84 escape act Sunday, going for the 2-0 lead versus the San Miguel Beermen in the continuation of the raceto-four title playoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

The team is confident the Tropang Giga will be in good hands as assistant coaches San d y Arespacochaga and Yuri Escueta take the rein while Reyes attends his job with the National team in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, playing Lebanon in Beirut Thursday and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena in Pasay City on Monday.

"Magtutulungan sina coach Sandy, Yuri and even team manager Jojo Lastimosa can pitch in some ideas," said Reyes. "It would be a good measure of my coaching ability if my team could perform at a high level without me."

Needless to say, the Tropang Giga are to go through a tougher grind in the next game after the Beermen blew early control of Game 1, squandering a 15-point lead in the two-point heartbreaker.

The Beermen should learn their lesson.

"Yun yung kailagan naming i-address. Kapag nakalamang kami ng malaki, biglang nagre-relax yung opensa namin. Nire-remind kami lagi ni coach. Kailangan namin i-work out yun," said San Miguel main man June

Mar Fajardo.

But credit also TNT's defense.

The Tropang Giga dragged the explosive Beermen to a low-scoring battle in Game 1, their defense holding toughest when they held SMB to 15 points in the third quarter, thus, swaying the tide in their favor.

Kelly Williams, TNT's man on the SMB behemoth, and his teammates also had big stoppages in the homestretch. They forced SMB to a 24-second shot-clock violation in its last possession, giving TNT one final possession that Castro turned into a dagger basket.

The SMB bench doubted if Castro beat the sound of the buzzer, but later accepted defeat and the fact that they needed to go back to the drawing board in a bid for Game 2 fightback.

"Wala na yun. Yung referee, table official, sila ang may nakakaalam. Kung counted yun, counted yun. Kailangan mag-move on," said Fajardo.

The Beermen are moving on with eyes on equalizer Wednesday. (SB)*