Sure barn-burner tonight
The downside of risking a short rotation in a long series is key players may run out of gas down the stretch. That should be a concern in the back of TNT active coaching consultant Mark Dickel’s mind as the KaTropa bench was largely unproductive in Games 1 and 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-7 finals against San Miguel Beer. The series is now tied, 1-1, with Game 3 set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
In Game 1, TNT’s bench delivered only eight points compared to San Miguel’s 25. Only reserves Brian Heruela and Ryan Reyes contributed to TNT’s output, meaning the five starters scored 93 percent of the team’s production. Five TNT players logged at least 30 minutes with Terrence Jones and R. R. Pogoy each playing at least 40. In contrast, four San Miguel players logged at least 30 minutes with only Chris McCullough playing at least 40. Dickel deployed 13 players but six saw action for less than 10 minutes so he basically used a seven-man rotation in carving out a 109-96 victory last Sunday.
San Miguel coach Leo Austria sent in 10 men with three playing less than 10 minutes. He also went with a seven-man rotation but the minutes were more evenly distributed.
In Game 2, the contrast was more stark. Three TNT players logged at least 50 minutes in San Miguel’s 127-125 double overtime win at the Big Dome last Wednesday. Only McCullough played at least 50 for San Miguel. Five TNT players checked in for at least 42 minutes compared to three for San Miguel. In bench points, San Miguel had the edge, 37-5. Heruela was the only reserve who scored for TNT. So once more, there was an over-reliance on the KaTropa starters.
Dickel’s rotation would’ve been deeper if only Tony Semerad and Kelly Williams were available but they’re in sick bay and out for the series. Williams played in only TNT’s first three games this conference while Semerad hurt his shoulder in a freak accident late in Game 1 of the Ginebra semifinal playoffs.
It was evident in Game 2 that TNT looked to slow down the pace. Jones often walked up the floor to preserve his energy. Austria designated McCullough as Jones’ primary defender in a key adjustment. McCullough took away Jones’ three-point shot by sticking to him closely in the perimeter. That prompted Jones to keep attacking the basket, tiring him out even more. With his tank running close to empty, Jones kept his energy for defense down the stretch. And when his legs started to get heavy, he settled for three-pointers that misfired all night long. Jones was 0-of-9 triples in Game 2.
Jones didn’t score at all in the fourth period until his ejection on two technicals with 21 seconds left in the first extension. Despite the short rotation, TNT had a chance to win it in the dying seconds but Jayson Castro missed twice from three-point distance. TNT could’ve sealed it if only Heruela and Troy Rosario made even one of their four free throws in the dying seconds of the first overtime. TNT hit only 54.2 percent from the line in the contest, missing 11. And Jones could’ve closed it out in regulation if he had converted his attempt that was thwarted by McCullough after bobbling on a Chris Ross tap.
San Miguel’s win in Game 2 spoiled Rosario’s breakout performance. Rosario hit 34 points on 12-of-19 from the floor, 8-of-12 from deep. Castro wound up with 27 points after tallying only two in the first half. The Blur also had eight rebounds and 12 assists in 50:33 minutes. TNT’s unsung hero Don Trollano compiled 14 points and 11 rebounds.
San Miguel led in 41:58 of 58 minutes and what kept TNT in the fight was its defense that produced 23 Beermen turnovers, leading to a huge advantage in turnover points, 31-13. San Miguel generated 63 points from guards Terence Romeo, Ross and Alex Cabagnot who shot a combined 21 in Game 1. McCullough finished with 32 points but his lack of maturity at 24 showed in critical moments when he was called for an eight-second halfcourt violation, blew a wide open dunk when the ball hit his foot to go out of bounds and often stalled San Miguel’s offense by taking too long deciding how to attack. June Mar Fajardo was a marked man from the start and survived a lot of hammering to deliver 12 points and 10 boards. Christian Standhardinger was active in hard-shows and pestered Jones in their matchup.
TNT can’t afford to play San Miguel up and down because of its short rotation. Besides, TNT thrives in a low-scoring deliberate style. Before Game 2, TNT held opponents to an average of 90.1 points in 15 wins and gave up an average of 99.3 in its three losses. San Miguel, on the other hand, likes to run like the wind. In Game 1, San Miguel’s edge in fastbreak points was glaring, 15-0. Curiously, in Game 2, TNT had more transition points, 16-8 because of San Miguel’s turnovers. San Miguel is a high-scoring machine with little to show in terms of defensive stats – the Beermen are last in assists allowed, last in two-point field goal percentage allowed and No. 11 in total field goal percentage allowed.
TNT is hungry for a title as it hasn’t won since 2015 or 11 conferences back. Rosario and Pogoy are two of five TNT players who’ve never tasted a championship. San Miguel isn’t just going for a second straight crown – the Beermen are trying to keep their hopes alive for a Grand Slam. Tonight’s Game 3 will be another barn-burner for sure.