TNT seeks 2-0 cushion

TNT KaTropa head coach Nash Racela. PBA IMAGES

Nash Racela’s young coaching career in the PBA has been predominantly marked by two things: Safe answers during interviews and success.

“We will make the adjustments for Game 2,” Racela, with a straight face, said Wednesday night, looking and sounding like he and his TNT KaTropa were the ones on the losing end of a 104-102 decision over favored powerhouse San Miguel Beer at the start of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The rookie coach will almost always clam up when asked about situations in his team—even if the situation he is being pressed about is something major. Like, say, import Joshua Smith’s state of health.

And no one seems to mind. What’s important is that his brilliant mind is delivering and he has allowed his team to take momentum in this best-of-seven series not a few have predicted the Beermen will dominate with ease.

Leo Austria, meanwhile, is the exact opposite and talks at length whenever asked.

“We have less than 48 hours to realize what’s going on,” Austria said, not referring to anything specific after his Beermen trailed most of Wednesday night before failing to cover Smith effectively at winning time.

“But definitely, we will make the adjustments,” Austria said.

Racela may contemplate on adjustments and convince people he will be busy working on them, but the burden of coming up with new strategies lies heavily on Austria in the 7 p.m. contest slated at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

“We need to contain their perimeter shooters,” Austria said as TNT’s outside guns pelted them with the baskets that mattered in the crunch, with Jason Castro’s triple in the dying seconds putting the Beermen in a 102-99 hole.

TNT managed to gut out the win despite playing Smith sparingly—torn ligaments in the import’s right foot make him a liability when the game’s tempo picks up.

When he is on the floor, however, Racela has made it sure that the Texters can maximize his imposing 6-foot-9, 330-pound presence in the shaded lane.

The Texters can run with the Beermen when Smith is on the bench, but when the import is in the game, Racela always calls for Smith to have a touch inside, creating problems for San Miguel’s defense.