IT will still take a while for Jordan Heading to suit up and finally play for TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Coach Chot Reyes admitted the team is in no rush to have Heading in the Tropang 5G lineup especially with the Fil-Australian shooting guard yet to fully recover from his back issue.
Reyes even doubts if the 29-year-old Heading is good to go and make his TNT debut against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
"He is really day-to-day because number one, he still has that back injury that he is still trying to recover from. And number two, he has been inactive for a long time. Hindi ganun kadali," said the champion coach.
Heading was in street clothes but joined the team behind the bench as he watched the Tropang 5G demolished the Blackwater Bossing, 108-82, to notch a sixth straight win in nine outings and move in fourth place in a tie with Rain or Shine and Ginebra.
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He was acquired in a huge trade with Converge in exchange for fellow Fil-foreign player Mikey Williams.
Heading hasn't played in the All-Filipino conference as he nurses the back spasm he suffered during the Converge-Rain or Shine quarterfinals series during the Commissioner's Cup.
But Reyes said the former Gilas Pilipinas player already showed up in team practice shortly after the trade was approved, but did not participate in scrimmages.
"He has been able to join a little bit of our practice, not yet completely full-contact practice," added the TNT coach.
Reyes even disclosed plans of perhaps, unveiling Heading by the time the playoffs start.
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"My mentality, our team's mentality is to play the last two games with who we have. If Jordan can join us, that's great. But if not, we have to figure out a way to win with the team and the players that we have," he said.(RG)
