Even with Blakely in tow, slumping TNT still needs locals to step up

It’s only been five games into the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup, but TNT has already sent two imports packing after Stacy Davis and Mike Glover failed to meet expectations.

Struggling at 2-4, the KaTropa have tapped former Best Import Marqus Blakely to help them get out of their misery but they are aware that he can’t do it all by himself.

“The first thing that I told my team is that Marqus is not our savior,” said deputy Eric Gonzales, who is in charge of the team with head coach Nash Racela on leave, in an article on the PBA’s website. “He will just help us so we must help him, too, to be effective.”

Blakely is a proven winner in the PBA having led the Purefoods franchise to the 2013 and 2014 Governors’ Cup.

It has been a tough campaign so far for TNT, which sent home first import Glover was sent home after just one game, where he put up 11 points and 15 rebounds in the 103-90 to sister team NLEX.

The KaTropa then had Davis take his turn but the team went 1-3 with him on the roster.

Gonzales, who oversaw the KaTropa’s 118-114 win over Columbian, said that the locals will still play a big part with Blakley in tow.

“He’s already used to the PBA and that’s one thing that is very encouraging, but the bulk of the effectiveness of Marqus depends on the locals,” said Gonzales. “It’s all about playing together as a team and helping each other out.”

“It’s all about having the initiative individually to really reach out because we started really flat. It’s no longer who coaches or who the import is but it’s really on us.”