Terrence Jones is ecstatic that his TNT managed to regain their bearings following a humiliating loss to Alaska in their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal encounter last Sunday.
The KaTropa blew their twice-to-beat advantage that night after suffering a harsh 72-108 beatdown to the Aces – their worst playoffs loss ever in franchise history, as per the league’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
But then, they made up for it four nights later, climbing back from an early 15-point deficit en route to the 104-93 win.
“We’re happy, we’re excited. We did this together as a team. You know, everybody was in a little panic after that first loss,” Jones said.
“And we just had to believe in ourselves and come together, and I think that’s what we did.”
Even Jones himself bounced back. After being held to just 19 last Sunday, the former NBA cager finished with 37 big points, including 15 in the final frame where he outscored all the Aces alone – the latter only had 12.
“I feel great,” said Jones, who also collected 22 rebounds, nine assists, and a steal in 48 minutes.
TNT have again made the semifinals after four conferences. But they will have to buckle down for work again immediately since they will have their hands full come the next stage; the KaTropa will face reigning champions Barangay Ginebra.
The series will be a best-of-five, and as usual, the venues will be filled with a pro-Ginebra crowd. Jones knows what’s in store for them, but for him, they just have to pull through together as one solid unit.
“We’re gonna have to just have that bond between ourselves as teammates and just believe in ourselves, no matter if it feels like a road game or not.”
