Roger Pogoy admitted that he was surprised that he got open looks in the TNT KaTropa’s win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game Two of their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series Sunday evening.
The 6-foot-2 3-and-D specialist felt like the Gin Kings were trying to challenge the KaTropa to take shots from beyond the arc. He then responded by burying six three-pointers en route to 18 points.
The third-year guard’s threes helped boost the Texters’ three-point tally to 16 in their dominant 88-71 victory.
“Oo, parang na-surprise ako kasi iba yung depensa nila eh.
“Parang china-challenge nila kami na tumira sa labas. Yun naman yung binigay nila, counter-an lang namin,” said Pogoy after the match.
Besides their excellent shooting from downtown, the KaTropa played remarkably well on the defensive side as well, limiting the Gin Kings to just 5-of-23 shooting from rainbow country.
But for Pogoy, it comes as no surprise that TNT played well on both ends, as they have been working hard for it to happen.
“Sa totoo lang, ‘di ako na-surprise kasi iba yung ine-ensayo namin eh. Tagal na naming hinihintay ‘to, na ganito yung depensa tsaka laro namin. Parang tinitiis lang namin kailan lalabas.
“Thank you kay God na kung kailan kailangan – semifinals pa – lumabas,” said the Far Eastern University product.
TNT now lead the best-of-three series 2-0, and a win on Game Three will propel them to the Finals. But Pogoy isn’t thinking too far ahead, as they expect the Barangay to show their NSD spirit.
“Mas mahirap siguro next game kasi alam naman natin Ginebra, never-say-die yan e,” he said. “Sana manalo kami next game.
“Pero isipin talaga namin na mas mahirap sa dalawang games namin.”
