TNT received plenty of spark from the bench in its 105-93 conquest of Magnolia in Game Two of the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Friday evening.
Top playmaker Jayson Castro, who has only started once this conference, led the mob with 16 points and five rebounds. This, after scoring just one point in the series opener last Wednesday which the Tropang Giga won convincingly.
Photo by PBA Images
Stocky floor general Brian Heruela, meanwhile, produced 11 points. 38-year-old Ryan Reyes chimed in 10 markers, two rebounds, and two assists.
The trio all went 2-for-2 from deep in the opening frame alone, where they drilled a total of 10 treys for a 40-27 lea. That matched the most first quarter points in a finale that TNT also set in the 2011 Governors’ Cup title series versus Petron.
Then there’s also center Poy Erram, who collected team-highs of 12 rebounds and four blocks with six points – which he scored off outside shots.
Photo by PBA Images
Versatile forward Glenn Khobuntin, last but not the least, added five markers.
In total, the Tropa bench scored 48 points.
Head coach Chot Reyes underscored the importance of their bench guys against the Hotshots, especially after their best-of-seven clash with long-time rivals San Miguel Beer in the semis that went the full route.
“We know that we are going to rely on the bench.
“We can’t rely on our starters in a grueling series – especially coming off a seven-game series as we did in San Miguel. So the bench is a very big part of our preparation,” he said.
But for Reyes, there’s no such thing as bench guys or second unit on TNT. They look at it as a team with 15 men all set to heed the call.
“I don’t even want to say just as important because they are [with] the team,” he said. “When we look at our team, we look at fifteen players.
“We don’t look at it as first team, second team, and the like. We have a team,” he added.
“And every single player has to be ready to step forward and do whatever is asked of him when the situation calls for it.”
