Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Jolas marvels at Cliff Jopia’s vast improvements


ANTIPOLO – TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa is pleased with the progress he has seen from Clifford Jopia in the ongoing PBA On Tour.

The 6-foot-8 youngster is one of the four San Beda players brought in by the Tropang Giga for the preseason tournament through special guest licenses (SGL), marking a reunion of sorts between him and the cage legend.

Jopia spent his first year in college at Far Eastern University, at a time when Lastimosa was a player development consultant of the Tamaraws.

“Even si Jopia was a revelation tonight, kasi player namin sa FEU ‘yun eh,” said the 59-year-old mentor, who was first brought into the program in 2014.

Lastimosa said as much moments after TNT’s first On Tour game versus NorthPort Friday at the Ynares Center here, which ended up in a 99-90 loss.

But the lanky big man from Cebu served as one of the few bright spots, at least in his mentor’s eyes, in the defeat, wherein he finished with five points, seven rebounds, and a block in 14 minutes off the bench.

Lastimosa lauded how Jopia has become better composure-wise inside the court, something that he didn’t see during their time together in FEU.

“Hindi naman naglalaro ng mahaba [noon] kasi may import eh. Now, he actually showed a little bit of poise inside. Wala masyadong offensive skillset, just around the basket, but the way he defends, yung demeanor niya,” he said.

“I was surprised na mas ano na siya ngayon, kumbaga, hindi na siya nagpa-panic kumpara nung dati sa FEU pa siya.”

#ReadMore  Meralco holds breath as Chris Newsome goes down
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

So heated was Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday night that the TNT dugout inside Mall of Asia Arena...

Basketball

Ginebra pulled all the necessary stops in the endgame to hack out the pulsating 71-70 decision and even things out with TNT in the...

Basketball

It may just be a simple reminder from his ‘kuya,’ but Roger Pogoy took it to heart and made sure to relay as much...

Basketball

Roger Pogoy got to familiarize himself with the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay ahead of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals...

Basketball

TNT leaned on its hot shooting from beyond the arc early to beat Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and gain the head start in the PBA...

Basketball

To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in....

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson won’t hesitate to break his fast again if need be, now that TNT guns for gold in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s...

Basketball

It goes without saying that filling a gap as big as what Jayson Castro had left brings immense pressure, and Rey Nambatac himself almost...

Advertisement