TNT Katropa may have lost on Saturday night against San Miguel Beermen but, as their head coach Nash Racela said, they have proved that “they can go toe-to-toe” with the league leaders.
“What we told the players today is to take the positives na makukuha namin sa game na ‘to. Clearly, based on the game today, we can go toe to toe with San Miguel,” shared the 45-year-old mentor.
Not only did TNT hold their own as a team against the defending All-Filipino champions, but in terms of player match-ups, the Katropa also made a statement that they can also square up.
“The guys are slowly starting to understand their roles,” remarked Racela.
“The way we do things here, yung rotations namin, and the use of our players. So that is something really positive going to the playoffs.”
One of the players who is starting to embrace their new role is second-year Katropa Mo Tautuaa.
After averaging just 10.38 points and 3.75 rebounds in the first eight games of the Philippine Cup, the Filipino-Tongan raised his game, posting norms of 17.33 points and 5.0 rebounds in their last three games of the conference.
Saturday evening, the touted head-to-head face-off was best exemplified by the contest at the center position, when Tautuaa went at it with reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo posted yet another monstrous outing of 20 points and 22 rebounds. But Tautuaa, who stands at 6-foot-8, did not back down, scoring 20 on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbed three boards.
Tautuaa, for his part, was challenged with the said match-up.
“I know June Mar from Gilas. I mean a lot of players I know, but June Mar is a good test. He’s a bigger guy. He’s tall. He’s good around the basket.
“I see him as a challenge,” remarked the first pick of the 2015 Draft.
And in his own words, against Fajardo, the California-bred big man admitted that he had flunked.
“Well we lost so I failed the test. But we still have a chance to redeem ourselves. We gotta go back to the gym and continue working,” the 27-year-old said.
But his showing is something that he should be proud of, having put up a gallant stand against the league’s best. However, the satisfaction wasn’t there, as his contribution went in vain with the narrow 98-94 defeat.
“Yeah. That’s the way to put it,” he lamented.
“The only thing we can do is prepare for the playoffs and see where we’re seeded, then we’ll work our way to the top.”
