ROGER Pogoy was determined not to end his and TNT's conference prematurely on Wednesday.
Pogoy had 30 points in the elimination game to help the Tropang 5G keep their Grand Slam hopes alive with an 89-88 win over Magnolia. With that, their PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup quarterfinals is extended to a knockout game on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ: TNT keeps grand slam dream alive by surviving late Magnolia rally
“’Yung mindset ko lang coming to this game is ayaw ko lang magpatalo, ayaw ko magbakasyon,” said Pogoy.
The do-or-die performance by Pogoy was more than his production in TNT’s final elimination round game of the conference against the same Hotshots squad, against whom he had 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, though he only had one three.
The Tropang 5G lost that outing, 88-83, sending them outside the top four and without a twice-to-beat advantage.
Pogoy was a volume shooter in the immediate rematch to force a knockout quarterfinal game, making 13-of-23 shots from the field, including three triples, although he attempted 11 from downtown.
He was also aggressive in attacking the higher-percentage shots, ending up at 10-of-12 from two-point range.
Chot lights a fire under Roger
A tongue-lashing from TNT coach Chot Reyes in the days after the crucial loss to Magnolia also served as added motivation.
“Palagi naman ‘yun 'pag nagagalit na si coach, 'pag nagtatanong na kung ano ang gusto namin, the next game, parang added fuel. Lahat, gustong magpakamatay. Ganun palagi. Minsan kasi pinapabayaan kami, eh nagre-relax. Kapag nagalit na si coach, talagang magigising ka,” said Pogoy.
When the dust cleared from that loss last Friday, Pogoy said the focus was to find counters to Hotshots defense after it forced the Tropang 5G to a conference-high 23 turnovers.
“Binabasa namin ‘yung defense ng Magnolia kasi last time, ang dami naming turnovers. Siguro ‘yun ‘yung turning point,” said Pogoy.
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