CHICAGO - Through the years, the TNT has historically been an offensive juggernaut, a tradition that still holds true with gunners Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy in the current roster.
But when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson arrived in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup, the Tropang Giga began to establish notoriety as a defensive powerhouse.
It's not a pivot, it's more of a deliberate acceleration toward becoming a two-way threat.
READ Chot hopes TNT defense will hold once Ginebra regains shooting touch
In Game One of this year's PBA Governors' Cup Finals last Sunday in Antipolo, the transformation worked magically for the signature franchise of the MVP Group.
With their offense clicking - 52.7 percent shooting from the field - TNT held Ginebra to just 30-of-77 shooting (39 percent) including a low 9.5 percent clip from three (2-for-21). on the way to a breezy 104-88 victory.
Keeping Ginebra cold throughout seven games is impossible but TNT will keep trying.
THERE IS A CAPITAL D IN TNT
"The goal of the system is set by the head coach and the assistants implement and drill it. We view a lot of videos, too, to set schemes. But we make sure we establish fundamentals, rules and principles first," said assistant coach Josh Reyes, explaining the method behind the madness of TNT's defense.
In the middle of the chaos is RHJ, a defensive beast whose tool box includes having phenomenal anticipation skills, cat-quick lateral movement and world-class athleticism that allows him to cover a lot of space.
In other words, he is a disruptor, a 6-foot-6, 217-pound irritant who spearheads TNT's goal of denying the first pass which typically allows the rhythm to flow in the triangle offense that Gins coach Tim Cone loves to run.
"They took away our strengths," Cone told SPIN.ph.
Justin Brownlee scored 23 but he missed 13 of 21 shots. Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi combined to miss 11 of 16 shots while sensational rookie RJ Abarrientos was held to 5 points and 1 assist.
Scottie Thompson struggled, too, just 3-of-10 from the field for 7 points.
BRACING FOR A GINEBRA STORM
"The goal is to sustain it, but Brownlee is too good," Reyes added.
Indeed, stopping one of the greatest imports to ever play in the PBA is like preparing against a natural disaster.
"Mahirap mag depensa sa kanya. Ang taas at saka ang galing ng galaw," TNT sharpshooter Roger Pogoy said after having his turn on guarding JB.
"Nakakapagod din," Pogoy added. "But nag-enjoy talaga ako sa trabaho ko sa depensa."
With nine PBA titles and six Coach of the Year awards to his name, there is no argument with regards to Chot Reyes' place in the Mount Rushmore of PBA coaches.
But this may be his best coaching job yet.
It's hard to devise defensive schemes. It's even harder to convince players to buy into it given that defense is the tedious, less glamorous aspect of basketball.
Somehow, coach Chot has managed to succeed in both.
Game Two should be dandy.
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