TROPANG GIGA REACH FINALS
In the end, TNT’s hard work and great resolve prevailed over San Miguel Beer’s vast experience and spotless record in Game 7s.
The highly-determined Tropang Giga went all-out to beat the seasoned Beermen in the semis sudden death, 97-79, and return to the PBA Philippine Cup finals yesterday in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Tropang Giga, who emerged victorious in the four odd-numbered semis games versus SMB, arranged a championship showdown with Magnolia beginning next week. The Hotshots advanced last Friday after beating the Meralco Bolts in the sixth match, 93-85.
“Sa five years ko sa PBA, palagi kaming natatalo sa playoffs ng San Miguel. So going into the game, sobrang motivated talaga ako na makabawi sa kanila,” said RR Pogoy, who torched SMB with 27 points spiked by 4-of-6 three-point shooting.
TNT coach Chot Reyes said a change in mindset helped the Tropang Giga get ready for the decider against SMB, which was 4-0 in previous winner-take-all seventh games.
Reyes said he told TNT that the squad should be “very happy to be on a 3-3 tie” despite starting center Kelly Williams skipping in the first four games and backup Poy Erram sustaining a fractured cheekbone in the middle of the series.
“I told them let’s look forward to Game 7, let’s not dread going to Game 7. I thought that’s the most important thing, when we shifted thinking and the players bought in and believed,” said Reyes, who’s back in the PBA finals since leading TNT to a Philippine Cup three-peat in 2012.
“In the end, I thought that’s what happened. They came in with a great resolve. But my job was simply to do that, all the rest they did it. They put in all the effort, they’re the ones who executed, made the shots, made the defensive stops.
“We’re just fortunate to be in the finals,” he added.
Reyes’ troops came in with a strong performance in the middle quarters to wrest control after trailing by eight in the first 12 minutes of play.
Mickey Williams fired eight of his 20 in the second period as TNT turned things around with a 30-13 exchange and seized a 45-36 edge.
Pogoy took over and rifled in 10 in the third as the Tropang Giga kept the Beermen at bay, 67-55.
The duo then joined forces with Troy Rosario and Poy Erram in the mop-up.
June Mar Fajardo banged in 22 with 16 boards to lead the Beermen, whose bid was hurt by the injuries suffered by Mo Tautuaa and Terrence Romeo in the second half.
The Tropang Giga gave themselves another crack at the PBA’s crown jewel after yielding a 1-4 loss to Barangay Ginebra in last year’s finale.
After hurdling the Gin Kings in the quarterfinals and then the Beermen in the Final Four, Reyes and his troops brace for another dogfight with the Hotshots up next in the race-to-four championship.
“The job isn’t over. There’s still another huge mountain to climb that’s playing very, very well,” Reyes, referring to the Hotshots.
TNT will engage
Magnolia in a titular dispute for the first time since the 2014 Commissioner’s Cup. The Hotshots, then flying the San Mig Coffee colors, won it as part of their grand slam feat. The scores: TNT 97 – Pogoy 27, M. Williams 20, Rosario 12, K. Williams 11, Erram 9, Reyes 7, Castro 6, Heruela 3, Khobuntin 2, Exciminiano 0, Montalbo 0, Marcelo 0. San Miguel 79 – Fajardo 22, Ross 15, Perez 11, Romeo 9, Santos 9, Pessumal 8, Cabagnot 3, Tautuaa 2, Zamar 0, Lassiter 0, Comboy 0, Gamalinda 0, Sena 0. TNT Quarterscores: 15-23, 45-36, 67-55, 97-79 It’s not easy scaling the ladder in women’s Division A of FIBA Asia although the Philippines has held off relegation since breaking into the upper tier in 2015. For Gilas to advance beyond No. 7, coach Pat Aquino’s squad must bring down at least one of six countries with a lock on the higher slots and that’s a challenge, considering the roadblocks are Japan, China, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Chinese-Taipei.
Recruiting a foreign naturalized player could be a way out of seventh place which the Philippines has occupied in the last six years. In 2015, Gilas beat India, 8276 to qualify for Division A and two years later, downed North Korea, 78-63, to avoid demotion to Division B. In 2019, the Philippines defeated India, 92-78, to hold on to seventh but lost by an average of 66 points to Australia, China and New Zealand. This year, Gilas repeated over India, 74-70, to stay in Division A despite bowing to China, Australia and Chinese-Taipei by an average of 65.
Gilas has never recruited a foreign naturalized player. Aquino, however, will bring in 6-1 Fil-Am Mai Loni Henson of the University of Washington as the Philippines’ naturalized “import” for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February. Henson was born in Temecula, California and qualifies as a naturalized player, not a local, because she was issued her Philippine passport after turning 16. But in the SEA and Asian Games where eligibility is based only on holding a passport, Henson will be classified as a local along with other Fil-Ams Stefanie Berberabe of Westmont College and Malia Bambrick of Pepperdine.
SBP president Al Panlilio said “in principle, we’re open (to recruiting a foreign naturalized player).” He added, “we just have to identify the best possible candidate…coach Pat and I haven’t spoken about it but we should discuss.” Panlilio said remaining in Division A was “a big achievement” for Gilas this year as the Philippines played without 6-5 center Jack Animam, who’s seeing action as an import in Serbia, and Fil-Am Kelli Hayes. Both Animam and Hayes were on the Philippine team that took its first SEA Games gold medal in women’s basketball in 2019 after a 38-year wait.
Aquino was in the US from December last year to March and from April to July this year to scout for Fil-Ams. Henson, Berberabe and Bambrick were among the players he invited to camp. “I’m still looking for a Blatche-type of import but Henson, Berberabe and Bambrick have already secured a Philippine passport so they’ll be available for the SEA Games,” he said. “Henson and Jack are committed to play for us in February and the SEA Games in May. We really have to develop talent at a young age and let them have exposure with this kind of competition level. Always have to prepare well with all your players ready. I know it looks hard at first to go over the block but in time, we will be at their level. Just think big and we’ll get there. I think if we are well-supported, we can be a power in Asia and make it to the Olympics.”
Aquino said he’ll ask Animam if she could recommend a foreigner in the Serbian league willing to play for Gilas as a naturalized import. “I’m definitely open to that,” he said. “I’ve been asking around in the US if anyone wants to do it.” Enlisting a naturalized import is nothing new in women’s basketball. WNBA legend and San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, an American, suited up for Russia as a naturalized import at the 2008 Olympics. In this year’s FIBA Asia Cup, Australia was bannered by WNBA player Sami Whitcomb, an American. Whitcomb was naturalized in 2018 and played for Australia at the 2018 FIBA World Cup.