Apparently, the TNT KaTropa suffered from first-game jitters, Sunday night.
The Texters went cold from the floor, as they hit just 32.6 percent of their shots. In the end it proved costly, as they bowed to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 79-90, in the PBA’s 44th season opener at the Philippine Arena.
TNT only hit nine of their 41 attempts from the three-point area. But for main man Jayson Castro, that is the type of shot they aim for.
“‘Di pumapasok yung mga outside shots namin, pero yun yung gusto naming shots talaga,” said Castro, who shot just 6-of-14 from the floor but still put up a double-double performance of 17 markers and 10 rebounds.
Though the loss was disappointing, Castro is instead looking at the positives. For the 32-year-old, Sunday night’s game versus the taller Ginebra made him and the team see that running a small lineup could actually work.
There were times in the game that Kelly Williams and new Texter Michael Miranda played the five spot; 6-foot-3 Don Trollano was at four; Ryan Reyes was at the wing; Roger Pogoy at the two; and Castro ran the one.
“Yun nga kung mapapansin niyo sobrang naging effective din sa’min yung small lineup kasi yung bola umiikot at nakakakuha ng open shots – kay Don, kay Mike [Miranda], at sa mga small guys namin,” said Castro, who is in his 11th year with TNT.
So for Castro, despite this horrid shooting night, he expressed confidence that TNT have adapted well to the system that consultant Mark Dickel is running.
“Yes. Mas confident kami sa mga ganung plays.
“Kung mapapansin niyo wala kaming big guys, so yun yung number one [dis]advantage namin, [so we have to] live or die sa three points,” declared the six-time PBA champion.
