TNT looking to replicate Commissioner’s Cup success in 3rd conference

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the lost opportunity in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, what TNT achieved can still be considered a success especially where the team was at just a season ago.

The KaTropa went from failing to enter the playoffs of the 2018 Governors’ Cup to becoming the top seed in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup after losing just one game in the eliminations.

TNT, however, fizzled out in the finals losing to San Miguel in six games of the finals but active consultant Mark Dickel is confident they can replicate their success for the season’s final conference.

“Definitely I do believe we can replicate this success,” said Dickel after TNT’s Game 6 loss to the Beermen, 102-90, Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We just have to play a little different, obviously, go back defensively and do some stuff and just build on the defensive platform that we’ve got.”

A large part of TNT’s success in the Commissioner’s Cup, though, was the presence of center and former NBA player Terrence Jones.

At 6-foot-9 and more than 250 pounds, Jones wasn’t just big but was also agile enough to be a presence underneath while being one of the main ball handlers for the KaTropa

Jones won Best Import of the second conference and averaged 33.7 points, 16.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 3.1 blocks, and 1.5 steals during the eliminations.

The Governors’ Cup, however, won’t see Jones lead the KaTropa since the third conference puts a 6-foot-5 limit to imports.

“It was really an honor to coach him, he just gave us a chance every game,” said Dickel. “It’s just his competitiveness, the way he assed the ball, it was fun. Those four months went by quickly.”

“We got another import coming in so we got to get him ready. He’s coming on the 24th and as soon as we get him acclimated it goes again.”

Dickel, however, won’t just rely on his import in the next conference with Jayson Castro still playing at a high level and youngsters Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario coming into their own.

Castro was named the Best Player of the Conference averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.9 steals during the eliminations but it was Pogoy who was the top-scoring local for the KaTropa.

Pogoy put up 17.2 points and 5.2 rebounds during the eliminations while Rosario put up 11 points and 4.9 rebounds a game.

“Two conference ago we didn’t make the playoffs, and there was this huge development from the players from one through 15,” said Dickel. “We just got to build on this and stay hungry and stay humble.”

“San Miguel is the champion for a reason. Those guys play every game out and play every game with no fear to win the game. That’s something you’ve got to learn.”