ROGER Pogoy was advised by the team's veterans to enjoy his first finals game in the PBA.
He did.
The Cebuano guard erupted for 27 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point distance in TNT KaTropa's nail-biting 104-102 win over San Miguel at the start of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.
Pogoy dropped 13 of his total output in the fourth period to keep the team afloat before Joshua Smith put the finishing touches to the win by nailing a hook shot with 1.6 ticks remaining.
"Sabi nila enjoy the game kasi first finals ko. Sabi enjoy lang, wag ma-pressure. ‘Yun ang palagi sinasabi nila," said Pogoy shortly after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
[See One great game deserves an encore, at least: Joshua Smith to suit up in Game 2]
The former Far Eastern University standout played down his heroics, saying he only got free because the Beermen's defense was focused on Jayson Castro almost the entire match.
"Oo, ‘yun din ang factor kasi naka-focus sila lahat kay Kuya Jayson. Palagi akong libre," he said.
Still, his dazzling performance highlighted by 10 straight points in the payoff period will give him the much-needed confidence going forward.
Still, the TNT sniper is not letting his big game get to his head, saying he needs to be ready if ever the Beermen makes a greater effort to put the cuffs on him in Game Two on Friday.
"Siguro kung anong depensa ibibigay nila sa akin, mag-adjust din ako," he said.
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