Ever since the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup, the TNT KaTropa have never held a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
That is why relief and satisfaction could be felt within the Katropa camp Sunday, when they blasted the Blackwater Elite, 115-97, in their 2019 Commissioner’s Cup elimination round encounter.
And that is all because they have clinched a twice-to-beat incentive for the mid-season conference.
“Yes. Yun. Finally, naka twice-to-beat kami,” exhaled TNT’s main man Jayson Castro, who flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds in the rousing victory.
For the 33-year-old guard, this feat of theirs had been brought upon by the unselfishness of each and every Texter in the team, including their dominant reinforcement in Terrence Jones.
Jones posted yet another triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists in the triumph.
“We play for each other talaga,” Castro said. “Hindi kung sino yung highest scorer. Lahat kami, yung chemistry talaga nandun. Especially may import kami na napaka-team player talaga.
“Willing to pass the ball kapag wide open, kaya niya mag-takeover at the same time sa defense makikita mo talagang aggressive din siya,” added the 11-year league veteran.
But as glad as they are to bag the playoff incentive again after a long while, Castro does not want to be too complacent. For him, this won’t mean anything if they won’t advance to the semifinals.
The flagship MVP franchise last saw action in a semifinal stage also in the 2017 Governors’ Cup, where they got beaten by eventual champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
“Wala namang guarantee na makaka-semis ka kaagad kapag twice-to-beat ka. Pero yun nga, may advantage. At sana yung advantage na yun i-grab namin.”
