Chot Reyes and his TNT Tropang Giga are expecting a counter from NLEX as they took the early lead in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
Facing the dual offensive threat of Robert Bolick and DeQuan Jones, TNT head coach Chot Reyes knew the task at hand.
Let one of them get loose and stop the other from going off. It's a sound strategy, but certainly easier said than done.
“We knew it’s going to be a difficult series. Our defense was obviously keen on those two guys, on DeQuan Cook and Robert Bolick. We thought if we could limit one of them, then we'd have a chance of winning,” Reyes said on the Tropang Giga gameplan against NLEX.
It worked in their Game 1 win, but the many-time champion coach is bracing for a response from his fellow multi-titled counterpart Jong Uichico as the series progresses.
[ALSO READ: PBA quarterfinals: RHJ, TNT rally past NLEX to gain headstart in best-of-five series]
“I’m sure coach Jong [Uichico] is going to make some adjustments in Game 2 which incumbent upon us to anticipate and prepare something else for the next game,” coach Chot bared.
While Cook put up 38 points and 12 rebounds, TNT successfully neutralized the Road Warriors' star playmaker in Bolick and limited him to just 10 points with four turnovers.
“It's very hard to stop both,” Reyes admitted.
Down by as many as 13, the Tropang Giga were also able to restore order in the third frame, taking a slim 73-71 lead heading to the final quarter led by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who finished with 45 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
When it mattered the most, TNT relied on RHJ and the former Best Import did not disappoint.
Veterans RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro also combined for 25 markers to lead the local attack, while Rey Nambatac chipped in 11 points. Calvin Oftana finished with just eight points but came alive in the closing moments of the game for TNT.
“We just had to buckle down, tightened the defense and we made some adjustments. In the end, the work paid off.”
For NLEX, Enoch Valdez and Baser Amer emerged as the top local scorers in the loss, both tallying 11 markers.
The Road Warriors eye for revenge in Game 2 with both teams scheduled to meet once more on Friday, September 27.