Roger Pogoy got to familiarize himself with the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay ahead of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals opener.
Thus, the solid shooting night he had to help TNT seize control early and eventually beat Ginebra on their way to the 1-0 lead in the race-to-4 affair.
“Laking bagay din talaga nung nag-ensayo kami kahapon dito,” he said Friday night moments after their 95-89 victory. “Dito kami nag-practice.”
As seen on their social media pages, the Tropang Giga held practice at the MoA Arena Thursday as it’s been a while since the league last played in the venue.
A quick check showed that the team last set foot in this arena back in February 15, 2023, which saw TNT deal Blackwater a 138-116 rout in a rousing welcome for the debuting Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who had 37 points and 13 rebounds.
But the star of that blowout, really, was Pogoy himself. He erupted for 40 big points, spiked by seven three-pointers, alongside nine rebounds.
“Two years ago na ata kaya kailangan talaga gamayin,” he reflected. “Buti na lang talaga nag-ensayo kami rito kahapon. Siguro may factor talaga ‘yun.”
Having that prep time even just about 24 hours prior to Game 1 did help the two-way specialist, as evidenced by his pinpoint accuracy from deep in the first quarter where he nailed three consecutive threes for the 20-16 lead.
Pogoy would go on to finish with five of the Tropang Giga’s 14 treys in the win for 15 points, much of course to his delight as he knows how crucial it is for him and the squad to be shooting well especially from deep in the Finals.
“Yun nga palaging sinasabi ni Calvin [Oftana]: kung gusto namin manalo, sana pumasok ‘yung mga three points namin,” he said.
“God’s blessing na pumasok lahat, so nag-open up ‘yung depensa ng Ginebra, so nakaka-atake si Rondae,” added Pogoy as the two-time Best Import flirted with a triple-double with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
But the FEU product didn’t take all the credit to himself, tipping his hat particularly to Almond Vosotros and Ping Exciminiano for their help in practice.
“Nag-shooting ako talaga. Pinasahan ako ni Almond tsaka ni Exciminiano. ‘Di sila ‘yung tumitira kundi ako lang ‘yung tumitira,” he said, smiling.
