"Maganda ang gising."
That's how Calvin Oftana termed his career-best 42-point sizzler fueling the TNT Tropang Giga to a first win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup from a poor 0-2 conference start.
Coach Chot Reyes was relieved with their 103-100 decision over Magnolia at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Dec. 11 but won't take anything such as a good wake-up, lucky break or anything else.
What Reyes wanted and what he wants in their next outing and moving forward is the one word written on their board in bold letters - EFFORT.
And from a weeklong breather, flexing their muscles hard and imposing themselves on the floor are expected of the Tropang Giga as they tangle with the Blackwater Bossing Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
"I'm very relieved that we came out with the W but still very upset because I really didn't like how we ended the game," said Reyes on their mere escape despite Oftana's big explosion coupled with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's all-around game of 41 markers, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Reyes rued their finish, and how they played their first two games against Eastern and NorthPort.
"Not having Jayson (Castro), Kelly (Williams) and Poy (Erram) was a big blow for us. But still there's no excuse for not exerting our best," said Reyes.
"That's why I was very upset the way we finished the game. We gave up eight points in the last 40 seconds and that goes against everything that we believe in and everything that we stand for as a team."
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At 1-4, the Bossing are asking the same of themselves.
They're deep down the chart, and they need to start winning if they're to make the post-elims play.
They've just broken through with a 114-98 win over the Meralco Bolts when they ran into a giant wall in San Miguel Beer and fell to a 102-115 loss.
They dropped earlier games versus Magnolia (100-118), NLEX (95-107) and Eastern (75-84). (SB)
