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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider RHJ return a big plus for TNT, but Mikey, Pogoy absence big shoes to fill — Jolas

RHJ return a big plus for TNT, but Mikey, Pogoy absence big shoes to fill — Jolas

Published Oct 27, 2023 04:11 am

At A Glance

  • TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa isn't all too confident on his team's chances in the upcoming season even with the return of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

TNT head coach Jojo Lastimosa isn't all too confident on his team’s chances in the upcoming season even with the return of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

 

rhj.jpeg
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (MB photo)

Lastimosa said that while the return of RHJ, who is coming off a stellar FIBA World Cup showing and a silver medal finish in the Asian Games while playing for Jordan, is certainly a big plus for the team, it would still be hard to fill in the firepower lost in the absence of Mikey Williams and RR Pogoy.

“It’s a big plus for us that Rondae is with us and we know how good Rondae is and what he brings to the table for us,” Lastimosa said of the former NBA player who towed TNT to an unexpected title in the Governors’ Cup last season.

“Having Rondae there gives us a little bit more confidence even without Mikey and Roger, but still not having that 40 points from Mikey and Roger those are big points to fill in,” he added.

Williams was still not in the lineup as contract talks between his camp and Tropang Giga remained in stalemate while Pogoy is expected to miss at least three months due to his heart condition.

Without the two, Lastimosa is unsure at how his team would fare in the Commissioner’s Cup although the Tropang Giga might be able to pull off some surprises like how they managed to win last season when no one was really expecting it.

“Every season is different and the one that we won last time, it was kind of like a dream come true and it came from nowhere, you know that and I know that,” said Lastimosa who will be coaching for his second season.

“I’m not oblivious to the fact that I wasn’t expecting to win that time but we won so it would turn out to be a different season for us. We might not do well and we might do well again we don’t know so it depends,” he added.

Jayson Castro is poised to lead the charge for TNT alongside Hollis-Jefferson while contributions are expected to come from guys like Ryan Reyes, Kelly Williams, Glenn Khobuntin and Calvin Oftana, who is fresh from a gold medal conquest in the Asiad.

 

Related Tags

TNT Tropang Giga Mikey Williams Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
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