He was a much-needed boost for the reeling Tropang Giga.
Brian Heruela was obviously still groping for form when he laced up for the TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA On Tour on Wednesday.
And in TNT's 96-88 win over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, Heruela fired a measly 3 points on just 1-for-7 shooting from the field. However, he did contribute 8 rebounds and 4 assists in close to 26 minutes of action.
It was understandable. After all, the hulking point guard was shelved for about six months due to a Baker’s cyst in his right knee and only joined the team last week.
The 26th overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft is still working towards regaining full strength, but he is nonetheless happy to be back on the court again after missing the entire Governors’ Cup last season.
“I’m fully healthy right now. Slowly getting back in shape and rhythm,” Heruela told One Sports.
“As you can see early I missed a lot of shots but regardless, I’m very happy to play. Hopefully getting better moving forward and stay healthy,” he added.
TNT assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga, whose undermanned team had to tap 3x3 players like Almond Vosotros and Lervin Flores after dropping all of their seven games before Wednesday’s clash, couldn’t help but feel relieved.
“May kaunting rust at the start, but after that, he was back to his old [self], playing defense, playing tenacious defense for us, quarterbacking the team,” he said after the match at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
But none was happier than Heruela himself.
“It feels amazing, feels great. Very grateful to be able to do what I like to do which is to hoop and be with my teammates,” the Cebuano cager said.
Heruela is hopeful he can regain his form in time for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, which will kick off the PBA's 48th season starting in October.
He will get another chance to work on that come Friday, as TNT returns to action after a quick turnaround to face nemesis Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
(MDB)