Mark Dickel rues late TNT collapse in Game 5: ‘Whatever could go wrong did go wrong’

MANILA, Philippines–TNT active consultant Mark Dickel has been gambling on using a short rotation that has yielded results for his team in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

But against a San Miguel side that has figured out a working tactic of their own, KaTropa drew the short end of the stick and absorbed their first back-to-back setback, a 99-94 loss in Game 5.

“It wasn’t a great way to finish the game,” Dickel told reporters after the losing stand that saw them giving up a double-digit lead.

“I thought we had a pretty good game up until that point. And then they made some plays, and we didn’t. We took the L.”

Dickel, KaTropa’s other shot-caller, rotated 10 of his players, including fresh-from-shelf Ryan Reyes to go against the Beermen’s deep cast.

But he still stuck to his main core for most of the time, nearly depleting Terrence Jones when it mattered.

That was especially evident during the final frame when the Beermen mounted a spirited fightback and regained the lead from 16 down.

“Whatever could go wrong did go wrong,” Dickel lamented. “It’s kind of Game 2.”

Former MVP Kelly Williams and fellow forward Tony Semerad remain sidelined due to injuries.

“We just gave them that one,” Dickel said after a short pause.

Asked about expanding his rotation, Dickel said that such an approach is “moot.”

“Ultimately, man, I got to do what I think is in the best interest of us winning us as many games,” he said.

Dickel, though, knows he can’t afford any more slip-ups if he aspires to deliver TNT’s first title in four years.

“In Game 6 man, we can’t lose any more games. We gotta come ready to win,” he added.