As they again soon attend extra duties with the SEA Games now around the corner, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy try to focus as hard as they can with their mother ball club as they try to keep their winning start in the PBA Governors Cup.
The KaTropa eye win No. 3 as they tangle with the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro, Rosario and Pogoy complemented import KJ McDaniels well as the KaTropa won their first two games in the season-ending tourney versus Blackwater (135-107) and Rain or Shine (103-91).
"We need to win as many as we can. Kailangan samantalahin namin. Pahirap ng pahirap yung mga games namin," said TNT coach Bong Ravena. "We just have to keep improving."
Ravena said that should be their mindset against a Phoenix side which has just got over the hump with a 103-101 win over Barangay Ginebra.
Sponsored content:
"Credit to the guys, gustong-gusto nilang manalo," said Phoenix coach Louie Alas after they broke into the win-column after a 0-2 conference start.
Eugene Phelps piled up triple-double numbers with 27 points, 23 rebounds and 11 assists, Matthew Wright rifled in 28 markers, and the whole Phoenix team stayed intact in the face of Ginebra's determined chase from 23 down.
That character-building victory could serve them well in another expected tough test versus the KaTropa led by their prized import McDaniels.
The highly touted NBA veteran scattered 37 points spiked by 10 in the last three minutes that quelled the E-Painters' uprising in their game on Sept. 28. McDaniels alo logged in 13 rebounds, five assists and five blocks then.
Ravena said McDaniels has been a positive influence.
Sponsored content:
"Like I said in our first game, we need McDaniels to be steady and consistent, and the locals will follow suit," said Ravena. (SB)
