RR Pogoy and TNT look to regain control in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals vs. Ginebra.
After waxing hot in the series opener, RR Pogoy cooled off for TNT in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, which ended up being a 71-70 loss to Brgy. Ginera.
Pogoy shot 4-of-12 from the field, two of which he made from deep in the fourth period when the Tropang Giga tried to claw back from a double-digit deficit to no avail.
[RELATED STORY: RHJ wants to improve, grow from Game 2 blunders: 'I'm not afraid to see where I messed up’]
The Cebuano hotshot admitted he was forcing his shots early on, allowing the Gin Kings to build seize control.
“Yun nga, nanggigil lang. Sobrang nanggigil nung una. Kahit di na ako balanced tinitira ko pa rin,” said Pogoy, who finished with 11 points in the loss.
While he was not his usual self in the early goings, Pogoy somewhat found his groove in the fourth period where he dropped eight points as TNT tried to flip the script.
[ALSO READ: RJ Abarrientos owns up to late miscues even as Ginebra survived TNT in Game 2 of PBA Finals]
“Yun adjustment ko next game. Buti nga nung second half pumpasok. Kasi relax na ako, di na nanggigil. Yun nga sinasabi ng coaches, ‘Parang lahat ng tira mo, di ka balanced e.’ Nanggigil e. Akin yun,” he added.
Even as Pogoy struggled mightily from the field, he wasn't the Tropang Giga that had it the worst in Game 2.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tried to bail TNT out in the final play of regulation, but Stephen Holt and Scottie Thompson’s defense forced him to take a tough shot that hit nothing but the backboard.
RHJ shot an even more woeful 6-of-23, and as the import stayed on the floor for a minute after the final buzzer, Pogoy approached him and helped him up before proceeding to the dugout at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Wala lang. Hinintay namin,” he said when asked what he told RHJ when he approached him. “Pero sabi ko nga dito sa dugout, live and die kami kay RHJ.”
[ALSO READ: Brownlee still not satisfied despite Ginebra's Game 2 win: 'We've just got to stay hungry’]
Pogoy hopes he will get his bearings going from the jump in Game 3 on Wednesday, as both teams contest a 2-1 lead at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Gametime is set at 7:30 p.m.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad, One Sports Digital)