TNT left for United Arab Emirates on Saturday to see action in the Abu Dhabi Invitational Basketball Championship, as it gears up for the opening of PBA Season 50 next week.
The eight-team, week-long pocket tournament serves as the first competitive preparation of the Tropang 5G for the first conference Philippine Cup tipping off on Oct. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 meet to be held at the Al Jazira Club Indoor Arena features champion club teams Al Riyadi (Lebanon), Astana (Kazakhstan), Champville (Lebanon), Al Qarin (Kuwait), and Sharjah, Al Dhafra, and Al Wahda from United Arab Emirates.
The tournament was initially set this week, but due to unavoidable circumstances, was moved to the 29th.
Coach Chot Reyes said TNT was supposed to withdraw from competing since the pocket meet was too close to the PBA's new season.
“Pero gustong-gusto nila na may Filipino team especially with TNT, so pumayag yung organizers na lalaruin lang namin yung first round. So we will play on Sept 29 and 30 and Oct. 1. Then Oct. 2 balik na kami,” he shared with SPIN.ph prior to their departure for the Middle East.
All-Filipino Tropang 5G
Teams are allowed to bring in two imports each, but the Tropang 5G will play with an all-Filipino crew.
“Kami pupunta dun all-Filipino because for me, preparation namin ito for the All-Filipino (Cup). So useless kung magdadala kami ng import,” said Reyes.
TNT is in Group A with Al Riyadi, Sharjah, and Al Dhafra, while in Group B are Al Wahda, Astana, Champville, and Qarin.
“Two groups of four. Nandito kami sa isang grupo kaya kakalaban kami ng tatlong laro. And then top two (in each group) advance. Pero kami hindi na kami kasama,” said Reyes.
The TNT coach, who steered the team to a near-Grand Slam in Season 49, is tempering expectations for them in the mini-tourney.
“Looking forward to a good competition, pero malamang magulpi kami,” Reyes said. “Ang lalakas nun (teams), hindi rin kami mananalo naman dahil may mga imports yun.
“Mabubugbog talaga kami dun. Pero sabi ko the objective is to compete kasi lahat ng kalaban namin (PBA teams) nagtu-tune up na. Kami wala pa kahit isang tune-up.”
Upon arrival, Reyes doesn’t seen the Tropang 5G playing any more tune-up games against fellow PBA ballclubs.
“Baka by that time, wala nang lumaban sa amin kasi pasimula na yung season. So yun na (tournament) ang pinakapreparasyon namin,” added the champion coach.
Prior to UAE, TNT held two preseason team buildings according to team manager Jojo Lastimosa in Malarayat Lipa in Batangas and the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.
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