(PBA image)
TNT head coach Chot Reyes refused to dwell on the negatives after the Tropang 5G absorbed a 97-89 loss to the Meralco Bolts in Game 3 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal showdown, instead zeroing in on small but meaningful positives as the series tightened.
For Reyes, the night carried a personal moment beyond the result, as he watched longtime TNT cornerstone Ranidel de Ocampo have his jersey raised to the rafters during halftime. On the court, he also found encouragement in his team’s defensive effort, which kept Meralco from breaking the century mark.
“I thought our defense was not bad. We kept them to the mid-90s,” Reyes said, pointing to the pressure that forced the Bolts into 12 turnovers.
But the veteran coach was quick to acknowledge where things unraveled. TNT’s offense sputtered at key stretches, with Jordan Heading and Calvin Oftana combining for just one field goal in 14 attempts. Reyes took it in stride, chalking it up to the swings of a long playoff series.
“Our offense was the problem. We struggled with our shooting. Jordan and Calvin were 1 out of 14 combined, but that’s the way the game goes. That’s the way the ball bounces. On to the next.”
The shooting woes were glaring. Oftana was limited to six points, while Heading went scoreless, leaving Roger Pogoy to shoulder the scoring load with 28 points in a losing effort.
Despite the setback, TNT still holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, and Reyes is confident the Tropang 5G can recalibrate in time for Game 4 on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
For now, it’s about correcting the offense, trusting the process, and moving forward — exactly the mindset Reyes believes will matter most as the semifinals grind on.