Chot Reyes and his TNT Tropang Giga will now have to play the gutsy Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 3 of the PBA semifinals without Jayson Castro.
TNT coach Chot Reyes is under no illusion that his charges are at an advantageous position in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
This despite the Tropang Giga being ahead 2-0 in their best-of-seven contest against Rain or Shine.
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TNT has won by only an average of three points against the gritty Elasto Painters, the latest of which was a 93-91 thriller Friday, Feb. 28, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The said match was an Adrian Nocum jumper away from favoring Rain or Shine.
“This could have been easily 2-0 the other way. That’s how close the series is. We don’t feel that we’re up 2-0 at all,” Reyes said during the post-game press conference.
“Our approach for the next game is going to be as if we do not have that kind of an advantage.”
Things are only going to get tougher from now on for the Tropang Giga, with Jayson Castro sustaining a patellar tendon tear on his right knee in the final minutes of Game 2.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will try to lead the TNT Tropang Giga past the Yeng Guiao-mentored Rain or Shine Elasto Painters anew in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
But Reyes trusts that the rest of the team will step up to fill the void left by the two-time Asia’s Best Point Guard.
“But like I said, as good an import as Rondae (Hollis-Jefferson) is, my trust in the other players is to the extent that we know when push comes to shove they’re not going to lose hope,” Reyes said.
“Walang bibigay. Puwede nila kaming talunin. [If] They made tough shots, then they might beat us. Pero they have to beat us, hindi 'yung kami 'yung bibigay.”
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With Castro out for the remainder of the season, it’s incumbent upon the locals to continue holding the fort for their fallen comrade.
TNT goes for a 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Sunday, March 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Tipoff is at 5 p.m.