TNT coach Nash Racela. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
When TNT was about to face Magnolia in the PBA Philippine Cup, a big part of the KaTropa’s game plan was to stop Paul Lee.
Magnolia’s spitfire guard was averaging 20 points a game prior to the Saturday game and head coach Nash Racela was determined to stop Lee from torching the KaTropa as they bid for a third straight win.
And although Lee finished with just five points after suffering a left ankle sprain early in the third, it was the Hotshots’ other guards that did the damage.
Mark Barroca and Justin Melton heeded the call for the Hotshots as Racela wasn’t able to concoct a defensive plan for the two as the Hotshots waltzed to a 91-83 victory.
“I felt we prepared well, we really executed well against Paul Lee but we failed against Barroca and Melton,” said Racela at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “The lesson here is to better prepare ourselves against everyone.”
Barroca was everywhere for the Hotshots as he finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.
Melton, on the other hand, immediately caught fire as Lee’s replacement as he scored 12 of his total 14 points in the third quarter while also grabbing 10 boards.
“There were just a number of mistakes, especially in the third quarter,” said Racela who saw his team get outscored 27-17 in the period. “Those are the things we need to correct moving forward.”
With the loss, the KaTropa dropped to 3-3 and is in a three-way tie with Rain or Shine and Phoenix at the fourth spot.