With a bit of ‘gigil’, Mac Tallo gets one over former team TNT

It’s no secret that players get excited whenever they face their former teams for the first time. Mac Tallo is no different.

In the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup opener on Friday night, Tallo battled his former team TNT Katropa – the team that made him realize his pro dreams when they drafted him with the ninth pick in 2017.

“Pinapagalitan nga ako ni JR [Quiñahan] lagi, ba’t daw gigil na gigil ako,” confessed the 5-foot-11 Cebuano, who was signed by the NLEX Road Warriors from the Katropa’s reserve list back in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.

“Tapos inexplain ko sa kanya, ‘di ko maiwasan kasi, alam mo, diyan ako galing na team, gusto kong magpakita,” he added. “So ayun, sabi niya relax ka lang, be composed lang.

“Siya yung magre-remind sa akin sa loob ng court.”

Thankfully, the veteran big man’s reminders helped Tallo a lot.

Tallo was able to translate that eagerness into something productive, churning out 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting along with three assists and two steals to help the Road Warriors thwart the Texters, 103-90.

He got one over his team.

Probably the best highlight of his outing happened with about 5:15 left in the second period. Tallo stripped the ball away from Jayson Castro, ran the floor, and finished with a lay-up all over the defense of Terrence Romeo.

“Tsamba lang,” the second-generation cager quipped.