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Roger Pogoy is the latest TNT player to get bitten by the injury bug, with the Tropang 5G already without guards Rey Nambatac and Brian Heruela
MANILA, Philippines – TNT holds a precious 2-0 lead in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals, but head coach Chot Reyes wonders whether the Tropang 5G have enough personnel to get the job done against Rain or Shine.
That is after star guard Roger Pogoy went down with a left hamstring injury in the first half of their 113-105 overtime win in Game 2 on Friday, June 27, leaving the TNT back court further depleted.
Pogoy is the latest player to get bitten by the injury bug, with the Tropang 5G already without guards Rey Nambatac and Brian Heruela.
Nambatac got left off the playoff roster due to groin and hip issues, while Heruela has missed the last three games since he hurt his left ankle in the first game of the quarterfinals against Magnolia.
“We may have won the game but we do not know if we still have the bodies to finish this series,” said Reyes. “But whoever is there, we’re just going to be fighting.”
Pogoy suffered the injury with 11 minutes left in the first half of Game 2 as he went for a layup.
As it turned out, Pogoy had been playing through the discomfort of his injury since the quarterfinals, helping TNT overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage against the Hotshots, before aggravating it in Game 2 of the semifinals.
Pogoy said he is uncertain whether he could play in Game 3 as the doctor advised him to sit it out.
“[The doctor] said I should rest,” said Pogoy.
Losing Pogoy is a major blow as his scoring and defense have allowed the Tropang 5G — who are seeking to accomplish a rare Grand Slam this season — to stay unbeaten in this playoffs.
In four playoff games, the Cebuano hotshot averaged 21.8 points on 48% shooting to go with 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists, with Pogoy becoming the 101st member of the 5,000-point club at the end of the quarterfinals.
Pogoy even scored 11 points in just 11 minutes of action in Game 2 before his exit.
But Pogoy opts to put things into perspective.
“It has been challenging because a lot of us are getting injured, and you all know that we have a goal. We need to win and reach the finals,” said Pogoy. “It is what it is. We need to experience hardships before we become champions.”
Game 3 is set on Sunday, June 28, at the Araneta Coliseum. – Rappler.com
