THE grind for the grand slam mission begins for TNT on Holy Monday.
The Tropang 5G hold their training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna as they prepare for their all-important campaign to complete a rare sweep of PBA Season 49.
Two weeks removed from winning the Commissioner’s Cup championship, the grand slam-seeking franchise goes back to work 10 days before it sets off its bid in the season-ending Philippine Cup.
Team manager Jojo Lastimosa disclosed the Tropang 5G will have a four-day camp at the sports academy in Calamba starting on April 14.
“Naka-schedule na kami. We’re going to be there for four days and practice through Holy Week,” said one of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players. “So magka-cramming na kami.”
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The camp breaks on Holy Thursday, just a week before TNT kicks off its All-Filipino campaign against NLEX on April 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The telecommunication franchise is on course of completing a rare grand slam after clinching back-to-back championships in the Governors’ and Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.
Although on their own and playing without do-it-all import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the Tropang 5G know what’s exactly on the horizon for the team.
“We have something to shoot for itong Philippine Cup. They (Tropang 5G) know what’s in store. Iilan lang yung teams to have an opportunity to win a grand slam,” said Lastimosa.
The TNT team manager of course, knows where he’s coming from.
Lastimosa was one-third of Alaska’s illustrious Big 3 – along with fellow Greatest Players Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins – which won the grand slam during the 1996 season.
'That's a special team'
“Imagine, winning one (title) is difficult. Getting into the finals is difficult, winning two in a row is difficult enough. Winning three in a row? That’s a special team,” he stressed.
This would be the second time in franchise history that TNT will be gunning for a season sweep.
The team came close to achieving the feat in 2011, but was thwarted by Petron (San Miguel) in the deciding Game 7 of the Governors’ Cup – then the third and final conference of the season.
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