RR Pogoy salvaged what was turning out into an off-night for the TNT star by making the game-winning shot that gave the Tropang 5G the upperhand in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
Pogoy knocked down a three-pointer, his first after his missing his first three tries from beyond the arc, with 7.4 seconds left to lift TNT to a 77-75 win over Meralco and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series.
Pogoy saves best for last
After averaging 24 points entering Game 3, Pogoy finished with just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field, but his last conversion was the biggest of the night.
“Ngayong game, nag-struggle talaga ako,” Pogoy admitted. “Talagang pangit ‘yung shooting ko. Sabi ko, parang walang lakas ‘yung mga tira ko. Puro bitin.”
“Pero grasya lang talaga ng Panginoon kaya na-shoot ko,” Pogoy added.
Pogoy has actually been struggling from threes, despite his stellar scoring output in the semifinals, as he combined for 2-of-7 or 29 percent in the first two games.
But as they say, shooters shoot. And Pogoy said his confidence never wavered especially after his defender Cliff Hodge started to back off from him.
“Sa play na ‘yun, sabi ko kapag nakuha ko ‘yung bola, ititira ko talaga. Ganun ako kakumpiyansa. Talagang ititira ko,” said Pogoy.
“Ida-drive ko sana. Paatras ng paatras si Cliff kaya tinira ko na talaga,” he added.
Pogoy’s heroics completed the win by an all-Filipino TNT crew after they lost Bol Bol for the entire conference due to an Achilles tear.
“Dagdag motivation kasi naglalaro kami wala si Bol. Naglalaro din kami para sa kanya dahil sa nangyari sa kanya. Sabi nga ni coach Chot, maglaro kami para kay Bol,” said Pogoy.
READ Pogoy's clutch trey lifts import-less TNT to stunner over Meralco
TNT will now have an import in the next game in Chris McCullough heading to Game 4 where the Tropang 5G will look to extend their series lead.
“Malaking kumpiyansa sa amin sa series na ‘to. Nanalo pa kami ng walang import. Mahirap manalo kasi may import sila. Proud ako sa mga guys ko lalo na si Rey (Nambatac), si Jordan (Heading), si (Brandon) Ganuelas, maganda nilaro nila,” said Pogoy.
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