TNT head coach Chot Reyes is doing what he can to keep his wards composed as the injury bug once again plagues the traditional contenders in a stage as important as the ongoing PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
The Tropang 5G are now trailing 1-2 behind San Miguel in the race-to-4 affair after absorbing a 108-88 beatdown in Game 3 on Friday night after playing without Poy Erram, who sat out due to a high-grade sprain on his right ankle.
“We just take it as it is. We have to find a way. We just told our players just to keep fighting,” Reyes said shortly after the match at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Erram’s injury came at a time when TNT was just getting the band back together. Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams returned to the fold after missing some games during their semis battle against Rain or Shine.
It was evident that they could all make good music together with those two in the lineup in Game 1 last Sunday, where they constructed a big lead before Pogoy came through with a clutch hit to take the 99-96 victory.
But the Tropa would see themselves finishing Game 2 without one of their top bigs when Erram got hurt early in the third quarter, never to return. His team went on to lose a 92-98 decision that leveled the series at one game apiece.
And now, his status for the rest of the title bout has become clouded with uncertainty after X-ray results showed a minor ligament tear.
Without him in Game 3, TNT couldn’t keep up, especially in the fourth. The team failed to complete the rally from 18 down as the Beermen retaliated behind big shots from Mo Tautua’a and Chris Ross before zooming to a 20-point victory.
Turnovers were a big factor behind their worst loss in a PBA Finals game since Game 7 of the 2022 Philippine Cup, as they committed a total of 18.
Taking care of the ball has been an issue for Reyes’ charges. They committed 15 back in the series opener, and then had 17 the last time out.
(C) PBA Images
The champion bench tactician could only concede that the reason behind that particular struggle of theirs is the absence of their top floor generals in Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac — and even Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“We don’t have our top two point guards, so that’s a direct reflection of that. In fact, we’ve lost our three point guards because in the conference tournaments, Rondae was playing point. So we’ve lost our top three point guards,” he said.
“We’re forcing guys — we’re forcing Heading to play the point, which is not his natural position. And buti nga, may Almond,” he added. “Simon Enciso is really just a backup player and Brian Heruela is just a defensive guard.
“We’re just making do. Sana kung nandiyan si Jayson at si Rey, baka iba–maybe we wouldn’t be turning the ball over that much.”
But it’s not him making excuses, as the 6-time Coach of the Year constantly reminds his wards to keep on competing, regardless.
“It’s too much to ask for us to win against a super powerful team like San Miguel kung kumpleto kami, e ngayon pang kulang-kulang? But we’re gonna keep fighting, see what happens,” he said.
#WATCH: “TAKE IT AS IT IS”
Chot Reyes stays unfazed as TNT pushes on despite another blow with Poy Erram’s injury 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis/ Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/5HUW1RwoDJ
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 18, 2025
