Winless Slam-seeking TNT in search of misplaced groove

Winless TNT enters what might be able to be the figuring out issue of its Grand Slam possibilities on Sunday when it battles a San Miguel Beer aspect that turns out hell-bent on protecting its revenge excursion at the street.

But trainer Chot Reyes, at the heels of any other stinging setback that dropped TNT’s file to 0-3 within the PBA Philippine Cup, is concentrated extra on getting the Tropang 5G’s groove again as an alternative of fanning hope into their slowly fading desires of finishing simplest the 6th triple crown in league historical past.

“I just want us to get back to our game and just string a good quarter together,” Reyes mentioned forward of the 7:30 p.m. fit at Ynares Center in Antipolo City. “And we have not been able to do that.”

Reyes’ wards persisted any other depressing day out two nights previous as TNT fell, 95-81, to Phoenix within the league’s first discuss with to the newly built Ynares Center II in Montalban, Rizal. TNT had any other tough get started and trailed via 27 at one level.

There used to be no mincing phrases from Reyes, who admitted that the Tropang 5G aren’t enjoying just like the workforce that produced two championships this season with import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Among the explanations he discussed had been the loss of connectivity and enjoying egocentric basketball, issues that had been polar opposites of what TNT flaunted all the way through the ones identify runs.

“We haven’t been able to put a nice, good, solid defensive and offensive quarter together,” he lamented. “I don’t know how we can do that against a powerhouse like San Miguel. [But] we will continue trying.”

While Reyes turns out to downplay TNT’s possibilities, San Miguel isn’t letting its guard down in spite of the perceived merit within the standings, intensity and shape.

San Miguel gained 3 of its 4 video games to start out the convention and is 9 days got rid of from a 104-93 mastery of sister workforce Barangay Ginebra.

Unbeaten hotshots

“We have to be ready, and we can’t relax against TNT,” Beermen big name CJ Perez mentioned. “And every all-Filipino, people expect us to compete because we have June Mar [Fajardo]. But it’s really a team effort, and what’s good about us is that we have good chemistry and camaraderie.”

Magnolia, in the meantime, targets to increase its unbeaten begin to 5 video games within the 5 p.m. curtain-raiser in opposition to slumping Terrafirma.

The Hotshots beat the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 118-99, of their final sport in Zamboanga City to stay the one workforce and not using a loss.

Terrafirma, in the meantime, continues its marketing campaign whilst nonetheless coping with the uncertainty surrounding the way forward for the franchise as Dyip control is now in talks with the Zamboanga Valientes possession.