AFTER a successful title repeat in the Commissioner's Cup, TNT embarks on a new mission, starting pursuit of another crown in PBA Season 49 in taking on Eastern Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
But though fresh from a title run, TNT coach Chot Reyes is downplaying things for his troops, saying they're in for an uphill battle.
"If the Governors' Cup was difficult, I find the Commissioner's Cup is going to be doubly, if not, 10 times more difficult," Reyes said.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates open their campaign at 7:30 p.m. versus the Eastern squad that is looking to bounce back from a first loss in its PBA journey at the hands of Rain or Shine Wednesday.
Glenn Yang, Eastern's chief playmaker, missed Wednesday's game due to a documentary problem - an issue already resolved clearing his return in their fourth game in the tourney.
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"Malaking break sa amin na wala sa kanila si Glen Yang. He's their primary guard," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao in beating Eastern, 99-81, in Yang's absence.
The guest squad from Hong Kong repulsed Phoenix, 102-87, then clobbered Converge, 117-106, before succumbing to Guiao's chargers.
Their next assignment is the TNT squad which is excited to plunge back into action completing a second straight Governors' Cup title run on a 95-85 dispatching of Barangay Ginebra on Nov. 8.
With their good chemistry with RHJ, the TNT management and coaching staff opted to keep the partnership even if Hollis-Jefferson will be a lot shorter than most of the other imports.
The call for the team is to trust one another and work together in pushing a lofty goal of back-to-back championships in the season. (SB)
