ANTIPOLO – The real TNT team showed up for Game 1 of their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series.
Coach LA Tenorio admtted the Tropang 5G just flaunted the same might that made allowed them to make it five straight stint in the finals since last year, including winning the championship of this same conference in Season 49.
The reality set out on the Hotshots after being walloped by the defending champions, 92-70, at the Ynares Center on Sunday night.
READ: Stingy TNT wallops Magnolia in impressive quarterfinals opener
“They’re the defending champions, plus RHJ (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) is back, so the morale of the players is really high. So it’s hard to play TNT,” said Tenorio.
‘Hindi naman nila ito ibibigay sa amin ng ganun kadali lang.”
Magnolia’s total score is the lowest for the franchise in the last five seasons or since posting a 70-62 win over Rain or Shine in the 2020 Philippine Cup Clark bubble.
The Hotshots were held to a paltry 37.8-point shooting percentage (28-of-74).
“Tinanggal nila kami doon sa flow namin especially on offense. Kumbaga gulpi de gulat. Yun ang nangyari,” said Tenorio.
If there’s any consolation that Magnolia has to take, the series is a best-of-five duel.
“What’s good thing about this best-of-five, we have a chance to get back and adjust. Yun lang naman yan,” said Tenorio.
Game 2 is set on Wednesday also at the Ynares Center.
“We just have to believe that we can match up and play against this mighty team TNT. It’s a big challenge for us lalo na sa akin,” admitted the rookie mentor.
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