It’s not just JuneMar Fajardo that the TNT Tropang Giga need to stop in Game 2 of the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals series.
The Tropang Giga will need to look out also forFajardo’s other teammates, who are expected to step up in Game 2 following an SMB loss in the first game.
Coach Chot Reyes said this before he headed for Lebanon as the Tropang Giga gun for a 2-0 lead and get ready to again meet the Beermen, who will be seeking to equalize the series at 5:45 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I think we did a good job in limiting the other (team). We knew JuneMar was going to get limited with the attention we put on him in defense. Hopefully, we can shut down the others as well,” said Reyes, who has left the coaching chores in Game 2 to assistant coaches Sandy Arespacochaga and Yuri Escueta.
Reyes is also coaching the Gilas Pilipinas national team in a FIBA tournament against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia for the week.
The Tropang Giga have the momentum after winning Game 1 on a buzzer-beater by Jayson Castro, 86-84.
In Game 2, the Beermen’s other shooters in CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Mo Tautuaa and Vic Manuel are expected to pick up the slack anytime the 6’10” Fajardo struggles underneath.
Perez is the Beermen’s next go-to guy with his averages of 17.45 points and 7.64 rebounds.
Tropang Giga’s offense will fall mainly in the hands of Mikey Williams, who norms 21.67 points and 5.17 boards per game.