RR Pogoy got the honor of putting the icing on the cake on TNT’s title repeat in the PBA Governors’ Cup final after hitting a dagger three-pointer to put Barangay Ginebra away and complete a 95-85 comeback on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
As expected of the Cebuano sharpshooter, he made Ginebra pay when they doubled Rondae Hollis-Jefferson late, drilling a three-pointer from the left wing to give TNT a 94-85 lead with 54.2 seconds left.
Pogoy would end up finishing 13 points, as he seemingly got his touch in the last two wins averaging 14.5 points after an up-and-down first four games.
It was extra special for the FEU standout as he finally won a title in the historic venue as he was injured the last time TNT won in the Governors’ Cup.
“Sobrang sarap sa talaga. Yung last na nag champion ako injured ako e, so nasa isip ko talaga na sana mag-champion sa Araneta kasi nung unang champion ko, bubble sabi ko sana mag-champion sa Araneta na nakakalaro ako,” he said.
“Tapos yun naka-shoot pa ko ng dagger three. Nung shumoot yung three points ko, parang nasa alapaap na ko e, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam talaga.”
READ: TNT outduels Ginebra in Game 6 dogfight to complete title repeat
But while he relished hitting some big shots for TNT, he hopes that he gets remembered for something else entirely in this series.
His defense.
Pogoy was one of the key players who made life hell for Justin Brownlee in this series as he gamely took on the tough assignment of limiting the naturalized Gilas Pilipinas star, sharing how he asked for that assignment before the finals series began.
But while he did his part in limiting Brownlee, he believes it’s a total team effort, especially with other noted defenders in his team wanting a piece of the brilliant import.
“Actually sa totoo lang talaga, coming to this series talaga ang isip ko talaga dedepensa kay Justin Brownlee. Nung Game 1 palang talaga gusto ko na talaga dumepensa kay Justin Brownlee,” he said.
“But sabi rin kasi ni Rondae gusto niya depensahan, sabi rin ni Glenn [Khobuntin] gusto nya depensahan, parang kami lahat gusto talaga depensahan si Brownlee so credit din sa mga teammate namin.”
With that in mind, this series showed that he’s more than just a lethal scorer – he’s more than a capable defender himself.
“Yung tao na makakapagsabi nun, but sa sarili gusto ko talaga i-establish sa sarili ko na two-way player ako,” Pogoy said.
“Gusto ko ma-establish na defensive player ako. Three and d ata ang tawag dun. Yun ang gusto ko talaga i-establish.”
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