TNT Tropang GIGA have already experienced living in a bubble, even before the PBA decided to resume its pandemic-interrupted season in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
Back in August, while the league’s 12 ball clubs buckled back down to work in per-batch workouts, the Tropang GIGA headed south to hold theirs at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
That in itself could be an advantage over the other teams now that they have begun life inside the former US military base. However, the team knows that this kind of bubble is different from theirs.
“They have been training very hard and getting their stamina up because they know that the bubble will be a long series,” said TNT team governor and PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas.
The Clark bubble will indeed run long, spanning several months. It is a far cry from the experience the flagship MVP Group franchise in its Inspire bubble, where it stayed for a few weeks.
Moreover, the elimination round games will take place on a daily basis. Teams could either play every other day or back-to-back, thus the importance of building the strength to last in such a set-up.
“It’s a series where you’re asked to play almost every day. While skill is important, your physique and stamina are also very important,” said Vargas. “So hopefully, by the time the bubble starts, we have the stamina to last the bubble.”
TNT is among the favorites in the 2020 Philippine Cup. It boasts easily one of the most formidable starting lineups in the league, following the acquisition of Poy Erram back in the off-season.
Many fans will be watching to see how a starting unit featuring the vastly-improved big man, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Ray Parks, and long-time franchise player Jayson Castro would fare in the upcoming cage wars.
But while many anticipate good things from TNT, Vargas downplayed expectations. Instead, he said the team remains a work in progress.
For one, the Tropang GIGA are still reeling from the absence of former league Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams, who last month announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the PBA — 10 spent with TNT.
“It’s hard to predict what our chances are. We lost one of our players, si Kelly,” said Vargas.
“That’s a loss to us as well.”
To address that, TNT signed young big man Chris Javier shortly after the league opened the transaction window for free agent signings last month.
Formerly with Blackwater, Javier is another new face aboard the Tropang GIGA. He joins guys like Simon Enciso, JJay Alejandro, and Lervin Flores — all of whom they acquired at the start of the year.
Enciso first arrived after being traded for sharpshooter Mike DiGregorio to Alaska in a one-for-one deal. Alejandro and Flores then came shortly after, picked up from the free-agent market.
“It’s practically a new team,” Vargas said. “Sabi nga nila bakit [ilang] days lang ang practice, kasi nga magkakakilala na. They know each other already. All-Filipino. I think that’s the advantage of the other teams.
“For our team, we’re still trying to get to know each other kasi marami ring bago sa team namin. They’re finding their way around their relationships. We’ll just see what we can do.”
