TNT top rookies underwhelm in first game

Both Mo Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, the top two picks in this year’s Rookie PBA Draft, didn’t perform as expected in their much-awaited debut.

In the Talk N’ Text’s 115-98 loss to Alaska in the 2016 Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup, Tautuaa and Rosario had an underwhelming start to their professional careers.

Tautuaa only got two points, two rebounds, and three assists in almost 20 minutes on the floor as a starter, while Rosario had four markers and three boards in 15 minutes off the bench.

READ: Alaska blasts Talk N’ Text in top rookies’ debut

“I had a hard time adjusting,” said the 6-foot-8 Tautuaa. “It was a lot different than D-League and I couldn’t find my rhythm, I couldn’t find my groove and it showed. I struggled everywhere on the floor. I didn’t feel myself today.”

But the Fil-Tongan big man refused to blame to rookie jitters for his bad game, saying, “I just couldn’t find my rhythm today. I was unfocused, that’s how I felt today.”

The 6-foot-7 Rosario, meanwhile, was disappointed with his first performance in the PBA, but vows to do better in his next game.

“Hindi ito yung ineexpect ko na debut game ko, pero ganun talaga yung nangyari,” said the Cagayan native. “Bawi na lang ako next game. Time to learn. Mahaba pa ang season, so di pa naman siguro ito yung makakasakit sa akin. Learning experience sa akin ito.”

READ: Rookie race could boil down to TNT teammates

(I wasn’t expecting this for my debut, but that’s what happened. I’ll just do better next game. It’s time to leart. It’s a long season so this probably won’t hurt me. I have to use this as a learning experience.)

Given all the hype surrounding them both, they admit that it wasn’t really the pressure that did them in. Bottomline was they just didn’t hit their shots.

Tautuaa and Rosario know that it’s still a long season for them and the Texters, and both of them are determined to prove their worth and bring results for their team.

“For myself, I did feel a little pressure,” Tautuaa bared, “but the old guys told me I shouldn’t. They just told me to play my game and today, that didn’t come. I understood all eyes will be pointed towards me and unfortunately, I didn’t bring what I needed. But it’s a long season so I got to keep my head up and continue to work, bring the results the team needs.”

“Wala naman akong naramdamang pressure. Di lang pumapasok yung mga tira ko,” he said. “Nasa sa yo lang naman kung pano mo ia-accept yun eh. Sa akin, challenge lang kung pano magiimprove. Iniisip ko na lang lagi kung pano ako magpeperform at makakatulong sa team ko.”

(I didn’t feel pressure, my shots just didn’t go in. It’s up to you to accept that. It’s a challenge for me how to improve that. Now my focus is how to perform and how to help their team.)