A COMMANDING 2-0 lead over Rain or Shine in their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals duel is not enough to give TNT a full sense of security.
In fact, coach Chot Reyes can't stress enough the need for his Tropang Giga to remain on their toes when they clash with the Elasto Painters Sunday for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"This could have been easily 2 and 0 the other way, right? That's how close the series is," said Reyes following TNT's 93-91 squeaker last Friday, a win that came on the heels of its equally harrowing 88-84 escape in the opener.
"We don't feel we're up 2-0 at all and our approach for the next game is going to be as if we don't have that kind of an advantage," maintained Reyes.
Indeed, the close losses only served to stoke the fire in Rain or Shine even more, at least according to coach Yeng Guiao. "Parehong dikit, parehong may chance kaming manalo," he offered after Game 2.
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"So subok ulit sa Sunday. Palapit ng palapit. Baka sa Sunday maungusan na namin," added Guiao. "We're disappointed, but at the same time we feel na may chance dito sa series, even if we're down 0-2."
Fanning Guiao's optimism is the knee injury suffered by Jayson Castro in the last 3:10 of Game 2. Castro was taken to a nearby hospital right after but the TNT veteran playmaker's status for Game 3 remains in doubt.
As of posting time there's still no update on Castro's condition, although Reyes initially admitted the way the 38-year-old clutched his right knee following an awkward landing off a drive is indeed a cause for concern.
"It appeared to me that it wasn't a good landing. Hopefully, it's not bad enough to keep him out of the next game," said Reyes.
Guiao said that Castro's injury is unfortunate but a welcome development for his team in its bid to at least stay alive in the series.
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"I'm not sure about the injury of Jayson, pero nangyayari talaga iyan sa series and malaking break iyan kung sakali. Either ma-minimize 'yung minutes niya or kailangan siyang ipahinga. I think that's one thing we can take advantage of," stated Guiao.
One thing for sure as far as Guiao is concerned and that the grit his youth-laden team has been showing would eventually lead to a breakthrough. "Meron na," he said in response to the question on his team's mettle.
"The mere fact na you're playing a champion team, steeped in tradition, and you're bringing them into an endgame situation every time, ang laking bagay noon," added Guiao.
"So disappointed ako pero nakikita ko na lumalaban 'yung team, matapang 'yung team. Meron lang talagang mga--I won't call them rookie mistakes - lack-of-experience mistakes. Pag nagkaka-experience ka mas tumitibay ka sa endgame."(NC)
