TNT Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes talked to his charge Poy Erram as they put their Game 5 altercation behind them.
Coming into a do-or-die Game 6 in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals, TNT faced both on-court challenges and external distractions, but they refused to let the noise keep them from their focus.
The Tropang Giga’s 66-73 setback in Game 5 against Ginebra was marred by a tense exchange between TNT head coach Chot Reyes and his ward Poy Erram — an incident that was much talked about in social media.
But despite that, the team remained locked in on their goal as they halted the Gin Kings in Game 6, 87-83, to force a winner-take-all Game 7 Wednesday, March 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
[RELATED STORY: TNT derails Ginebra, forces winner-take-all Game 7 in PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals]
After the match, Reyes quickly downplayed the incident, saying that there was no need to talk about it within the team as that reflected their trust in each other — much like a family that also encounters misunderstandings but still chooses to stay together.
“We felt no need to address it. No. 1, I wasn't aware kung ano man 'yung usap-usapan because I don't read those things. I just stayed focused on the task at hand. Kung ano man 'yong usap-usapan sa labas, that has very little value to us,” Reyes said during the post-game press conference.
"But your question kung nag-ayos kami, you can ask Rey (Nambatac, who was beside him during the presser), wala. We had a regular team meeting yesterday and we didn't even need to address it because that's the level of trust in our team, that's our depth. If we get on each other's nerve and mag-sigawan kami, eh ang mga makakapatid at magkakapamilya nga, nagsisigawan at nag-aaway 'di ba? But that doesn't mean that they're going to break up as a family. That's, I won't say normal, but, like I said, we did not even have to talk about it or address it," he added.
Poy Erram is helped by his TNT Tropang Giga teammates during Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals Wednesday, March 26. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
For his part, Erram responded with a strong performance, finishing with 14 points, 10 of which in the fourth quarter.
The 6-foot-8 center also secured a vital offensive rebound after import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson missed two free throws in the final seconds, giving TNT another chance to close out the game.
[RELATED STORY: Tim Cone, Ginebra quick to shift focus to Game 7 of PBA Finals vs TNT]
Reyes said that he talked to his big man, reminding him to stay focused as his presence is important to the Tropang Giga.
“We just told Poy to focus on shutting off the noise. 'Yon ang importante sa kanya. I told him, of all our players in this series, he was the one with the highest plus/minus,” said Reyes.
“I said 'Just focus; just shut off the noise,' and because his presence is very important. Luckily, he did just that tonight.”
Now that they have put the incident behind them, Poy Erram and the rest of the Tropang Giga will try to get the job done in Game 7 on Friday, March 29, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.