CHICAGO - On the heels of his prostate cancer diagnosis, former US president Joe Biden thanked well-wishers for their support and echoed optimism on the tough battle that lay ahead.
"We are strongest in the broken places," Biden said in a statement.
The Tropang 5G are currently in a parallel uphill battle where the team is broken in the strongest place - the point guard position. It's not as serious as a life-threatening event but TNT's dilemma is potentially a grand slam killer.
READ Rey Nambatac out four to six weeks for TNT due to groin injury
The importance of playmaking is paramount in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup where the top contenders all have stellar playmakers who move the ball around and facilitate the best shot available on every possession.
Relying on the three-headed monster of Jerom Lastimosa, Mark Barocca and Peter Alfaro, the 6-1 Magnolia Hotshots average 22.6 assists per game while NLEX is at 20.6. Ginebra leads the pack at 26.2.
Already without Jayson Castro before the conference started, TNT ranked ninth in the league in assists with 18.5 a contest. And with Rey Nambatac out for up to six weeks with a groin strain, it will be a challenge to fill the void he left - 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in six starts.
"NEXT MAN UP."
While obviously stirred, TNT isn't shaken and is charging ahead to fight the adversity.
"Next man up," assistant coach Josh Reyes told me via text message on Monday night.
Although Reyes didn't provide specifics, a team source told me that Brian Heruela could be tapped as a starter against surging Rain on Shine this Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The stocky 5-foot-10, 195-lb Heruela has averaged a modest 1.8 points and 1.2 dimes in five games where he is logging an average of 13 minutes and 59 seconds off the bench.
At 36 years old, Heruela is a crafty veteran with seven PBA championships to his name. His promotion to the starting unit makes way for the newly-acquired Simon Enciso to shore up the reserves crew.
"We just need to hold the fort," the source said of the team's goal while navigating Nambatac's absence.
WITH A 3-3 RECORD, THE MARGIN FOR ERROR IS SLIM.
Fortunately for TNT, Terrafirma (1-7), NorthPort (1-5) and Blackwater (1-4) appear to be dead on arrival at the end of the elimination round, which means the Tropang 5G will only have to worry about warding off Meralco (3-5) and Phoenix (2-5).
With bodies falling and pieces missing, I asked Reyes if Mikey Williams, who was reported to be "in talks" with TNT recently, is still an option.
"That ship sailed a long time ago," the former Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach said.
With their grand slim bid on the line, TNT seems to believe that a Mikey Williams distraction will only lead to destruction.
Apparently, the ice that had enveloped the relationship between both sides for 25 months now hasn't shown any signs of thawing.
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