From Kobe Bryant and Lebron James to Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis, TNT’s quartet of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Poy Erram named their dream NBA matchups.
Some dreams turned into reality, and some remain as is.
Regardless, there’s no stopping the most prominent names in the PBA today — particularly from the TNT Tropang Giga —- from naming their dream NBA match-ups.
Before the Tropang Giga’s Game 2 semifinal clash against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, they told One Sports which superstars the quartet of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Poy Erram want to face.
RHJ: Kobe Bryant
Being compared to the late-great Kobe Bryant is no easy feat.
But with his looks, moves, and killer mentality, RHJ is the closest thing the PBA fans can see of the five-time champion’s playing style.
Before playing overseas basketball, the two-time PBA Best Import spent six seasons in the NBA and suited up for the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers.
In fact, the do-it-all import faced Bryant and the LA Lakers in a regular season match-up with the former still with the Nets.
“I went against Kobe [Bryant] when I was playing for Brooklyn [Nets]. I remember guarding him at the top of the key. He passed the ball, so I felt that stopped him,” RHJ said.
RR Pogoy: Luka Doncic
Just like RHJ, Pogoy played against his idol in Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter and Serbia team captain Bogdan Bogdanovic.
[ALSO READ: Comparing TNT Tropang Giga players to NBA stars]
It was back in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China when the Cebuano gunman, then representing the Philippines, tangled with a then 27-year-old Bogdanovic and the Serbian squad.
But one name the three-time PBA champion also picked? Luka Doncic.
“Nakalaban ko na si Bogdan Bogdanovic. Siguro si Luka [Doncic],” the 32-year-old guard revealed.
Calvin Oftana: Luka Doncic, LeBron James
Speaking of Doncic, the Slovenian superstar’s new-found partnership with four-time NBA champion LeBron James ushered a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers.
What was once a dream pairing turned into reality as LA found a successor to James who is in the twilight of his career.Given a chance, Oftana did not hesitate to name the two superstars as his dream opponents.
“Dalawa sila. Si Lebron James at Luka [Doncic]. Sila ‘yung mga player na tinitingala ko knowing na how dominant they are sa NBA,” the Gilas Pilipinas gunner said.
Poy Erram: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Anthony Davis
From the big men of the past to a modern-day stalwart, Erram listed three prominent names on his list.
“Si Dirk, matangkad siya tska alam niya kung paano gamitin yung height niya. Si KG naman, [‘yung] intensity [niya] and ‘yung leadership niya. Kay Anthony Davis, more on [pagiging] finesse and [‘yung] inside-out [game] niya.”
Nowitzki and Garnett are former champions who defined the 2000s era of basketball, with the former behind his shooting prowess and the latter being a two-way force.
Davis, meanwhile, is the quintessential big man capable of scoring either inside or outside while also playing top-notch defense.
Watch the full video here:
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad)