The TNT Tropang Giga are looking to finish off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 5 of their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinal showdown.
TNT coach Chot Reyes' calculated risk in fielding in injury-ridden Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals paid off.
Though they played limited minutes, Castro and Willaims combined for 14 points and six rebounds the the Tropang Giga’s pulsating 81-79 win over Rain or Shine on Wednesday, October 16.
TNT leads the best-of-seven affair, 3-1.
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Reyes bared TNT could have played the two in the Game 3 loss but decided to reserve them for the crucial Game 4.
“It was a calculated risk on our part. They were actually ready to go — I thought Jayson and Kelly could have played a few minutes in the last game. But I said we knew this was far from over so we thought we would need them more here in Game 4,” he said.
They were still not at full strength, though.
Castro sat out Game 3 because of knee issues, while Williams suffered a calf injury in Game 1 of the nip-and-tuck series.
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“Jayson is still not 100 percent, that’s why he asked to be subbed out late in the fourth period,” he said of the two-time Best Point Guard in Asia.
“We normally finish with Jayson inside but he asked to be subbed out because his knee is still bothering him.”
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With William now back at his disposal, Reyes could not help but feel relieved going into Game 5 on Friday, October 18.
“He looked good out there. Not a hundred percent but at least he helped us a lot with his defense and rebounding,” he said.
Reyes and the Tropang Giga will need all the help they can get as they try to finish off the Elasto Painters at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
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