TNT Katropa went to Macau not only to compete in the East Asia League Terrific 12, but also to hold a team-building session in preparation for its campaign in the PBA Governors Cup.
Even after the Katropa were bundled out in the fight for a berth in the semifinals, the team stayed on in China’s special administrative region to practice and bond.
The day after it ended its campaign in the tournament with a 99-90 win over Niigata Albirex Basketball for an even 1-1 record in Group D, the Katropa practiced twice at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, one in the morning and then another in the evening.
The team flew back to Manila on Saturday.
“Huge positives to take from it. Got a couple of days of practice and get ready for our first game (this conference),” said active consultant Mark Dickel about the team staying in Macau for six days and playing a team each from the J-League (Niigata Albirex) and the CBA (Liaoning Flying Leopards).
The team building also allowed the Katropa to blend in new acquisitions Samboy De Leon and Almond Vosotros and at the same time, get import KJ McDaniels adopt to its system.
De Leon and Vosotros suited up as Dickel opted to give starters Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario limited minutes.
The TnT consultant admitted going after the services of Vosotros for sometime now.
“That’s someone that for the last 3-4 months we’ve been really interested in,” he said of the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay. “And he kind of proved now that he can perform and that’s another good player that we have.”
Of course, there’s the 26-year-old McDaniels, who showed he can deliver for a Katropa side that's coming off a heartbreaking loss to San Miguel in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals despite having Best Import Terrence Jones in their lineup.
“I think we’re very lucky to have him. He’ such an unselfish player, too, and defensively he’s already clicked in and we’ve known how exactly how we need him to play,” said Dickel.
“Look, if the other teams kind of double him and try to take the ball out of his hands, he’ll kind of score relatively easily. And when he shoots his own shot, he’s the first to go get it, so that’s kind of very difficult to stop him from doing that at least,” he added. “We’re lucky to have him.”
TnT kicks off its campaign in the season-ending meet on Wednesday against Blackwater, which will be reinforced by former Katropa import Marqus Blakely.
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