March 14, 2016
In the main game, Barangay Ginebra defeated Blackwater, 89-79, to rise to 4-3 in the team standings. Ginebra have won four out of their last five games and are now in fourth place in the tournament.
Here are news and tidbits around the association in this edition of the PBA Pass-Through.
Castro, Fonacier status
Tropang TNT guard Jayson Castro (achilles) was a doubt entering TNT’s game against NLEX, although he dressed up to show support for his team.
Head coach Jong Uichico spoke after the team’s win, and he hopes Castro’s absence is “only for this game.”
Larry Fonacier (respiratory problem), meanwhile, missed the match as well, as he had been sidelined due to sickness. Uichico said the wing man has already been discharged and is recovering well.
Jai Reyes steps up, credits TNT culture
With the absence of main playmaker Jayson Castro in TNT’s game Sunday, Jai Reyes rose to the occasion to help the Tropa beat NLEX. Reyes scored 11 points, including 3-for-7 from three-point land, and had three rebounds and two assists in close to 20 minutes of action.
“Wala si Jayson (Castro) tapos si Larry (Fonacier) may sakit pa so lahat talaga kami kailangan magstep-up,” Reyes said. “I just wanted to give the energy sa team. Medyo sinwerte rin sa tira, so success.”
Reyes credited TNT’s culture of pushing each other to do extra work, and also cited the team’s openness when it comes to helping each other point out mistakes and how to improve them.
“Sabi lang ni coach stay ready. Yun lang. Lahat naman kami ready parati,” he said.
“Standard naman sa team namin yun. Maganda kultura sa TNT na pinu-push ang bawat isa mag-extra work. Medyo maganda rin yun kapag nasabihan ka, walang bad reaction o kokontra. Lahat tinetake yung constructive (criticism).”
Reyes said Castro also had given him a few extra tips entering the game, and the reserve point guard happily obliged.
“Siyempre, best point guard in Asia yun so bakit hindi ka makikinig diba,” he shared.
