JORDAN Heading didn’t see action on Friday for TNT despite being activated a day before the Tropang 5G’s game against Blackwater.
The same could be the case come Sunday when the Tropang 5G go up against Barangay Ginebra in a rematch of the PBA Governors’ and Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“I doubt,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, when asked about the chances of Heading making his Tropang 5G debut on Sunday against the Gin Kings.
READ TNT flaunts newfound depth in runaway win over Blackwater
Heading showed up in street clothes for the Tropang 5G’s 108-82 win over Blackwater in the squad’s first playdate since the PBA Commissioner’s Office approved the one-on-one swap with Converge for Mikey Williams.
Heading said he is also unsure if he will be debuting against Ginebra, even after being activated.
“We will see,” said Heading. “I have to have some conversations. We don’t have an answer just yet. But we will see.”
Reyes said Heading, who hasn’t played since February due to back spasms, needs more time to get into rhythm, even after attending TNT’s practices since he came aboard on Wednesday.
“He is really a 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. But he has been able to join a little bit of our practice, not yet completely full-contact practice,” said Reyes.
While they would love to have Heading on the court again, Reyes said the mindset of the team is that they are going to play without the former Gilas cadet member for the rest of the eliminations.
“We are not rushing it. And 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,” said Reyes.
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