TIME and again TNT has stressed its dominance over Kia.
Things could be different Friday when the KaTropa make their PBA Governors Cup debut against a Picanto crew bristling to barge into the win-column at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
After finishing runner-up to San Miguel Beer in the Commissioner's Cup, TNT took a well-deserved break and started practices for the season-ending tourney only Monday of last week, including a three-day camp in Subic.
That prevented the KaTropa from playing any tune-up game with import Michael Craig and that's what nags at coach Nash Racela more than the foot injuries that put Ryan Reyes and Kris Rosales on the sidelines for at least their opening game.
"We just need to have a good start for the conference," said Racela, who will rely mostly on Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, RR Garcia and Troy Rosario the most.
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"We haven't played any tune-up game. Hopefully we get to learn how to play with our import the soonest," added Racela.
Kia is all too ready and willing to pounce on whatever opportunity presented by TNT.
The Picanto have lost their first two games and chief shotcaller Chris Gavina largely blamed his late return from coaching clinics in the US for their losses against Phoenix on opening day (July 19) and NLEX three days later.
"With only two days of preparation with me at the helm it was hard covering all aspects of the game that I wanted going into our last game against NLEX," explained Gavina.
"But now that I have had a full week of practice of hardwiring our team with the defensive principles I want it executed as well as committing to offensive efficiency our guys are beginning to realize again that it will take an overall team effort and sacrifice towards each other to win our game tomorrow."
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Even the 93-100 loss to NLEX has its positives for Kia as it bucked the absence of the ailing LA Revilla to battle back from as many as a 27-point deficit and pull within five in the fourth quarter.
Revilla remains doubtful against TNT, but Gavina remains confident his locals, led by the likes of Glenn Khobuntin, Chito Jaime and Reden Celda, would rally around Markeith Cummings for them to score a breakthrough win.
"A winning culture is a mindset and all it takes is one win to get you to believe that you can beat the best," said Gavina. "We're aiming at playing smarter, not harder, tomorrow in disrupting TNT's offensive flow and maximizing our shot clock until we work for great shots."
