Barring any injuries to players, there’s a big chance TNT can regain its former glory and contend for the title again.
TNT hasn’t won a championship since Mikey Williams.
After lording over the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup, the Tropang Giga have not come close to winning another title even with a relatively stacked lineup bannered by Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, two-time Asia's best point guard Jayson Castro, and ageless Kelly Williams.
In the midst of a shaky start to the Philippine Cup last season, TNT coach Chot Reyes himself admitted the team is no longer as mighty as it used to be.
But in hopes of solving the Mikey Williams riddle and ending the title drought, TNT made a trade for Rey Nambatac.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Rey Nambatac heads to TNT, Blackwater receives Kib Montalbo, Jewel Ponferada, future second-round pick]
Nambatac is expected to make an impact right away for the supposedly perennial powerhouse team that is seeking a 10th PBA title.
While there’s no Mikey Williams, import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is also making a comeback for TNT.
RHJ led TNT in its Governors’ Cup conquest in 2023. The naturalized player for Jordan returned in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, but a neck injury cut his stint short.
[ALSO READ: 'No longer mighty TNT' | Coach Chot Reyes makes frank assessment after Tropang Giga's shaky PBA start]
Here’s how the defending champion looks in the upcoming Governors’ Cup:
Holdovers:
Calvin Oftana
JP Erram
Paul Varilla
Glenn Khobuntin
Brian Heruela
Roger Pogoy
Jayson Castro
Kelly Williams
Henry Galinato
Kim Aurin
Barkley Ebona
New guys:
Almond Vosotros
Chris Exciminiano
Calvin Payawal
Rey Nambatac
Injured/Rreserve:
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser
Import:
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Outlook:
TNT is pretty much complete from top to bottom.
There’s Nambatac who can explode when scoring becomes hard to come by. There’s Pogoy, who, when healthy, is an instant offense for the Tropang Giga. There’s Erram, Galinato, and Ebona to hold the fort until Ganuelas-Rosser returns from injury.
When the going got tough, TNT can also rely on Castro and Kelly down the stretch. The seasoned duo showed last season they still got some left in the tank.
Barring any injuries to players, there’s a big chance TNT can regain its former glory and contend for the title again.
[ALSO READ: Despite trading stars in offseason, Ginebra remains a formidable team in PBA Season 49]