Having enough manpower is the biggest concern of TNT Tropang 5G coach Chot Reyes.
Kelly Williams and Calvin Oftana may need time to recover from their respective injuries going into Game 5 of the Tropang 5G’s best-of-seven semifinals series against Rain or Shine on Friday in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang 5G lead the series at 3-1.
“I’m only concerned if we have enough men, because we’re just dropping like flies. We lost Kelly today, Calvin as well,” said Reyes.
In Game 4, Jordan Heading came up with 23 points, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and their big efforts saw the Tropang 5G move closer to a finals slot.
“But just as it’s been since Day One, not only this conference but the entire season, it’s just whoever we have, next man up. So for me going into the next game, that’s my only concern — who do we have and how can I make best use of whoever it is that we have left?” added Reyes.
Williams sprained his ankle in the first half of Game 4 as the Tropang 5G still pulled through with a 108-92 blasting of the Painters at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Oftana, who hurt his left ankle in the quarterfinals, suffered pain on his right ankle early in the fourth quarter of Game 4 and got subbed out.
But Oftana hopes to continue playing in Game 5.
Later in the evening, the San Miguel Beermen clash with the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings at 7:30 p.m.
The Beermen, with injured Junemar Fajardo back in action, broke free from a tight game en route to a series-tying 107-82 rout of the Gin Kings on Wednesday.
