TITAN Ultra was in between drills in practice on Friday morning at Victoria Sports Club on the eve of its final PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup game when Tirrell Brown II casually threw down a slam that left the whole team silent in awe.
Teammate Pao Javillonar pointed to the rim’s fiberglass backboard at the Quezon City court after seeing it dented with a long crack, then crossed his hands, signaling the rim needed a substitute.
They could laugh about it later as the incident put an end to practice early.
“I was just dunking and it was already cracked a little bit, but I didn't even know so it just cracked some more,” an apologetic Brown said with a smile.
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Is it a sign that the Giant Risers are eager to go out with a bang as they take on Terrafirma on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo?
“Maybe, maybe. I don't know,” Brown said.
“Maybe I've been working out hard in the gym so I got a little bit more bounce,” the 6-foot-6 American power forward with the muscular built and dreadlocks was quick to add.
The Giant Risers are out of the playoff race, winning only twice in their 11 games to be stuck at second to the last among the seven teams in Group A, only a half-game ahead of listless guest team Macau Giant Pandas.
Titan Ultra has also lost by an average of 32.5 points in their two assignments since the resumption of the season-ending conference, the latest a 147-115 beating at the hands of No. 1 NLEX on Wednesday.
Brown hopes to lead the Giant Risers in breaking their losing streak as they bid their season goodbye.
“I think we always have a good chance to win,” said the University of Central Arkansas product, who has played all over South America in the last decade before taking his act to the Philippines.
“It's just hard whenever you're a new team and we're still getting everything together. We recently got a new coach and some new players so we're still putting everything together. You never know,” he added of the Pureblends franchise now under interim coach Raymond Valenzona and lead assistant Marlon Martin calling the shots.
While their season may be over, Brown hopes for an encore next year with better-experienced squad – if he gets another call-up.
“I've enjoyed my time just building for next year and just to be better and to be competitive so we're just getting better,” he concluded.
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