EVEN after a big win, TNT coach Bong Ravena is far from satisfied, claiming his crew is still a long ways off from the level he wants it to be.
Terrafirma Dyip coach Johnedel Cardel is hoping the Tropang Giga don't get there yet when they clash Tuesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Angeles City.
Bannered by top rookie pick Roosevelt Adams and reigning scoring champion CJ Perez, the Dyip are hoping to get off to a fine start.
"We just want to start well and sustain it para magkaroon kami ng better chance of winning," said Cardel on the eve of the match.
It would surely take some doing.
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TNT is coming off a 100-95 win over Alaska just last Sunday in a game where the Tropang Giga managed to overhaul an early 17-point lead before gutting it out in the endgame.
Still, Ravena insisted his team's first game in the bubble left plenty to be desired. "Malayo pa, wala pa kami. I mean, sa level na gusto namin. Siguro wala pa sa kalahati," he said.
"Hopefully we can learn from this game and madala namin sa mga next games. So many turnovers and defensive lapses," added Ravena.
Good thing for RR Pogoy took the time to score a career-high 45 points, a sterling performance preserved by team stalwart Jayson Castro's heroics in the endgame.
Cardel keenly scouted the game with his staff and have pinpointed the key Tropang Giga his Dyip must mark. "Pogoy, siyempre Castro and then there's (Poy) Erram and (Rayray) Parks kapag pinaglaro," he enumerated.
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Erram got thrown out after an early F1 and a technical foul late in the third quarter and is sure to bounce back in a big way while Parks suited up but did not play to rest a calf strain he incurred in practice.
Cardel also believes his reserve players would play crucial roles and complement Adams and Perez.
"I told Roosevelt to let the game come to him and huwag masyadong manggigil," related Cardel.
"And of course, CJ is CJ, pero I keep reminding them all na it's not just about two or three guys. It's all about playing as a team, lalo na sa defensive end." (NC)
