SAN Miguel was anything but surprised to see Kelly Williams and Roger Pogoy play for TNT in the Tropang 5G’s 99-96 win in Game One of the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Williams, the former MVP who remains dependable as ever at 43, was listed as doubtful due to a sprained ankle, while Pogoy missed the last four games of the semifinals against Rain or Shine and was labeled day-to-day owing to a hamstring injury.
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But to most people’s surprise, they suited up in Game One of the title series and provided TNT a big lift.
Not SMB coach Leo Austria.
“I keep on telling the team, especially after the press conference, na this is one of their strategies in my assumption,” Austria said. “The mere fact na sinabi ni Pogoy na ‘tomorrow we will know,’ I know they are practicing.”
Pogoy ended up with a team-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field in 18 minutes off the bench. The TNT gunner scored all but three of his entire output in the first three quarters where the Tropang 5G built their biggest lead at 24.
Williams, for his part, even started for the team and chipped in nine points, seven boards, four assists, and one steal in almost 28 minutes of play.
Asked if he thought TNT hid Williams and Pogoy’s real statuses, Austria said they prepared for the Tropang 5G as if the two were on the roster.
“Itago man nila o hindi, talagang hindi namin makikita yung ginagawa nila,” he said with a smile.
“But I told the team to expect the two guys to play,” Austria said.
The ploy seemed to work early on as the Tropang 5G built a seemingly insurmountable lead that the Beermen stunningly erased – before TNT held on in the endgame that was marred by a controversial offensive interference call that nullified a Mo Tautuaa dunk after a review.
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