This time around, the TNT Tropang Giga shot better after suffering back-to-back losses.
The Tropang Gigas came up with 44 percent shooting clip when they bounced back with an 85-79 beating of the Meralco Bolts on Saturday evening.
“We needed to play relaxed. They were tense from their back to back losses,” said Tropang Giga coach Bong Ravena.
This gave Tropang Giga their seventh triumph in 10 matchers which put them back on track in their campaign in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena.
The Tropang Gigas, who wore black jerseys marked with words “All Black Giga Mamba” on the front of their jerseys as tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, remained in second spot.
“It’s a relief that we won this game. It’s a really very important game for us,” said Ravena after the Tropang Giga rebounded from setbacks to the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
The Bolts missed posting their third win in a row.
Tropang Giga, getting a game-high 27 points from RR Pogoy, were averaging 42 attempts from the three-point range, but they only shot 22 against the Bolts.
“But we’re focusing really on our defense – how to stop our man, how to make stops. Meralco, when they play against us, it’s a must-win game every game. We have to keep playing,” said Ravena.
Meralco’s offense drew strength from Chris Newsome’s 17 points and the pair of Cliff Hodge and Raymond Almazan, who made 14 points.
It was a great evening for Pogoy, who improved after a 4-for-15 performance in his previous game.
Pogoy was 12-for-24 on his field goal shooting.
The Tropang Giga are bracing for their next encounter, which is match against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10.
