The nine-year PBA veteran kept it real.
The TNT Tropang Giga were supposed to enter the 48th season of the PBA with heads held high, dripping with swag, brimming with confidence. After all, they’re coming off a championship run, wherein they decisively defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to win Season 47’s Governors’ Cup crown.
Instead, TNT is limping its way into the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup.
The Mikey Williams situation has become a distraction, and the injuries currently plaguing the team have made things more difficult for the Jojo Lastimosa-mentored squad. On opening day, the lack of firepower was evident as the Tropang Giga succumbed to the Magnolia Hotshots, 110-102.
On Monday, TNT swingman Matt Ganuelas Rosser took to Instagram to send a clear message to his injured teammates, which included highly touted import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, floor general Kib Montalbo, winger Paul Varilla, big men Justin Chua and Poy Erram, and rookie Henry Galinato.
“Need all y’all back healthy! 😅🙏🏾,” MGR commented on a post by TNT on the team's official Instagram page. Said post was a picture of RHJ, Montalbo, and the rest of the Tropang Giga's walking wounded, with the caption, "In time. Get well soon."
The six-time PBA champion was simply keeping it real. Those guys need to be 100% healthy so they can collectively make up for the absence of TNT’s two main gunners in Williams and RR Pogoy who is out for the entire conference due to a heart condition.
Import replacement Quincy Miller and local Calvin Oftana tried stepping up for Tropang Giga on Sunday versus the Hotshots, pouring in 37 and 28 points, respectively. But their efforts weren't enough to thwart Magnolia, who leaned on the spectacular debut of reinforcement Tyler Bey. Until everybody’s back and ready to play, Coach Jolas must be creative and find other ways to get buckets.
See how he does in the coming games as Season 48 of the PBA continues.
(MDB)