WITHOUT him knowing, Glenn Khobuntin is about to achieve a personal record when he suits up for TNT in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel.
As the Tropang 5G are set to play a record-tying 75th game of the season, so will Khobuntin becoming the only player to see action in all of those games.
The 33-year-old forward said he wasn’t aware of the personal mark until he was told by no less than TNT coach Chot Reyes.
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“Hindi ko naman naisip na may mga ganun. Pero siyempre thankful na at least wala tayong injuries. Nakakalaro pa rin tayo,” said Khobuntin.
The record was made possible after TNT claimed Game 5 of the title series against the Beermen, 86-78, Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Going to Game 6 on Friday at the Philsports Arena, TNT will tie Alaska for the all-time PBA record for most games played one team in one season.
The Aces did the feat back in 1995 when they also made the finals of all three conferences, bagging the Governors’ Cup championship against San Miguel, while finishing runner-up to Sunkist in the All-Filipino and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.
PBA greats Johnny Abarrientos and Jojo Lastimosa, now the TNT team manager, suited up in 74 out of the 75 games Alaska played back then.
Curiously, San Miguel players Mike Mustre and two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso also did the feat in the 1998 season when the Beermen twice finished runner-up in the All-Filipino and Commissioner's Cup, along with a semifinals stint in the Governors' Cup.
Six years earlier, another MVP in Renato Agustin also saw action in 74 games for San Miguel, which won the All-Filipino championship, finished runner up in the First Conference and reached the semifinals of the Third Conference.
Now, Khobuntin will be surpassing their records by weekend.
“Si coach Jolas pala yung ka-tie ko dun,” Khobutin said about the 30-year-old record provided by PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
The pride of Cagayan De Oro said he’s grateful not to miss a single game in a season that saw TNT playing in the finals for the third straight time, while also gunning for its third championship in a row for a possible grand slam.
“Sobrang salamat kasi minsan lang magtuluy-tuloy yung laro. Blessing yun. Hangga’t kayang maglaro, maglalaro pa rin ako. Yun ang mindset ko lang siguro,” said Khobuntin, who’s averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in the finals.
And his secret for the season-long longevity?
“Consistent lang sa workout siguro,” he pointed out. “As a player kailangan mo yun. Hindi ka puwede basta-basta mag-skip sa workout especially bugbugan yung mga games.
“And tamang pahinga rin talaga.”
Nor does he follow any strict diet.
“Hindi naman ako masyadong strict sa diet. Basta alam ko lang yung kinakain ko hindi sobra,” he said.
Personal milestone
A win on Friday will see TNT surpassing Alaska’s old record, while Khobuntin is set to add a new number to his own personal milestone.
Now that’s getting a bit ahead of the story.
"Oo, pero Friday muna kasi napakahirap talagang kalaban ng San Miguel,” said Khobuntin. “Sana makuha namin yung Friday, hopefully.”
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