ANTIPOLO — TNT’s successful title defense in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup has seemingly given the perennial contenders a false sense of security.
That’s how Roger Pogoy feels, at least, after the Tropang Giga fell to 0-2 in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup following a narrow loss to NorthPort on Sunday.
“Siguro ‘yun ‘yung pakiramdam sa katawan namin. Kasi nga galing sa championship. Akala namin, pati sa sarili ko, madali panalunin lahat,” he told reporters moments after the 100-95 defeat at the Ynares Center here.
TNT resumed its season just last Wednesday and expectations were generally tempered since the team had only returned to practice last November 25.
That’s why many saw their 99-81 loss to Cameron Clark and Hong Kong Eastern as just a rusty start to the mid-season conference.
Coach Chot Reyes and Co. appeared to have shaken things off against the Batang Pier, when they overcame sluggishness by turning it up in the middle quarters. The crew led by 11 points a couple of times in the third canto.
They even held a 94-93 advantage with less than three minutes left, only for the troika of Evan Nelle, Arvin Tolentino, and Joshua Munzon to spoil the party and lift the Batang Pier toward their fourth win in as many games.
Asked if the absence of Poy Erram due to a one-game ban for his F2 infraction against Glen Yang affected the team, Pogoy refused to make any excuse.
All that he lamented was the defense, or lack thereof, as well as their mishandling of the ball after finishing with 21 turnovers.
“Sobrang sama ng laro namin. Walang depensa, daming turnovers, wala talaga lahat,” said the star guard, who had 17 points in the loss.
“‘Di ko rin alam bakit ganito eh, last conference naman ang ganda ng depensa namin ‘di ba? ‘Yun nga mantra namin eh, na sa depensa kami kukuha ng lakas eh. Ngayon, parang walang depensa. 100 points dalawang game na.”
Pogoy of course hopes for TNT to arrest its skid sooner although he knows, too, that it won’t be that easy given how big the target on their back has grown.
“Ngayong conference, lahat ng teams, kami target kasi nag-champion last conference. So sobrang hirap niyan every game,” he said.
