A TEAM meeting centered around Bol Bol apparently helped smoothen team chemistry at TNT - perhaps the turning point of their PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup campaign.
Prior to the playoffs, TNT had an open forum to talk things over with Bol as the Tropang 5G tried to salvage a campaign that started with heightened expectations following the arrival of the 7-foot-3 import but now seemed headed to a gigantic failure.
The Tropang 5G underachieved with Bol during the eliminations, eventually ending up as the No. 8 seed team in the quarterfinals as they entered the playoffs on the back of a three-game losing skid.
READ How different is RHJ-led TNT from Tropang 5G's all-Bol era? Huge
“Nag-usap kami as a team,” Calvin Oftana revealed on Saturday. “Walang viewing. Instead na mag-viewing kami, nag-oopen forum kami kung ano ang problema internally.”
Oftana admitted there was the disconnect between Bol and the team which reflected in the performance on the court - not what you'd expect from a multi-titled team with a high-profile, 7-foot-3 import with NBA experience in the roster.
“In-open up namin kung ano ang problema namin kay Bol, ano yung pananaw namin sa team, kung gusto niya ba kami sa team or gusto ba namin siya sa team, mga ganung bagay,” said Oftana.
No holding back for TNT locals
Oftana said the locals didn't hold back in saying to Bol's face his tendencies to be a ball hog. Coaches also told Bol that the team has what it takes to win championships, pointing out that prior to Bol's arrival, TNT came one conference championship away from a grand slam in Season 49 and had just finished runner-up to San Miguel during the last 50th Season Philippine Cup.
“Sinabi lang namin na, ‘Bol, kailangan mo rin ipasa din minsan.’ Sinabihan talaga namin na kailangan mo rin ipasa minsan. Sinabi nga ni coach na you need to trust the locals kasi nga we've been there a couple of times sa semis at sa finals. Naniwala naman siya,” said Oftana.
Oftana and his teammates then took it upon themselves to prove coach Chot Reyes' words right.
“As locals, kailangan lang namin i-prove na tama 'yung sinabi ng mga coaches namin sa kanya,” said Oftana.
Bol must've taken the words to heart so far, as the heart-to-heart talk produced favorable results: TNT was able to win twice to become just the fifth No. 8 seed to advance to the semifinals after upsetting top seed NLEX, 118-112, on Saturday.
“Siyempre, you need to open up sa kanya na. Ang maganda naman kay Bol, inaccept niya as a brother na doon kami nagkasundo lahat,” said Oftana.
“Happy kami 'yung pinapakita ni Bol, yung versatility nya sa laro, kung paano niya dalhin yung team namin. It's up to us locals to help him out para makayod namin itong semifinals to the finals,” he added.
That was exactly what happened to TNT during its quarterfinal series against NLEX where Tropang 5G mainstays Oftana, RR Pogoy, and Jayson Castro spearheaded the local attack.
In the series opener, Oftana topscored for the locals with 19 points while shooting 4-of-8 from threes in the 96-93 win last Wednesday. Pogoy followed it up on Saturday by finishing with 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the six-point win over NLEX.
Back in the playoffs after recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon last season, Castro averaged 14 points and 5.5 assists during the NLEX series.
As for Bol, he was his old, deadly self as he averaged 34.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks during the NLEX series. Although slightly lower than the 38.2-point, 14.7-rebound, 4.5-assist averages during the eliminations, the numbers were done with less touches.
Castro has noticed the difference.
“Malaki rin yung sacrifice niya na na-realize niya rin na kailangan niya i-share yung bola, umikot before namin siya puntahan, para maging threat din kami,” said Castro.
‘Ayaw namin umalis agad si Bol’
TNT now moves on to its next challenge when it goes up against Meralco in the semifinals beginning on Wednesday, and Oftana likes their chances, believing that they have put the shaky elimimation round campaign behind them.
Despite their problems with their import at the start, Oftana wants Bol to stay as long as possible with the team.
“We started rough this conference. Right now, we are looking good in our own way na nakukuha na namin yung rhythm namin with Bol. Bol is looking pretty good surrounded with us. Siyempre motivated kami.”
“Ayaw namin umalis agad si Bol na ganito lang. Kami rin naman. Maraming nangyari sa team at happy ako na nakalusot kami this quarters,” said Oftana.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
