After dominant Game 1, TNT only focused on getting better

TNT coach Chot Reyes. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Same mentality, different energy.

TNT has maintained the same mindset from when it dispatched Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals, to its seven-game slugfest with San Miguel in the semifinals, and ultimately in the unfolding finals against Magnolia of the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.

Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes said the team’s mantra is to just get better each passing game and giving the same effort as before just won’t cut it.

“We’ve been on playoff mode for seven games, well eight games including the quarterfinal game against Ginebra, so this is now our ninth playoff game,” said Reyes following TNT’s 88-70 win over the Hotshots in Game 1 of the finals Wednesday at DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

“We wanted to make sure that our focus, our energy, our preparation was according to the rhythm that we have established. Our concern now is to get better. We want to be better in the finals because if we put in the same game that we did in the semis then we’re going to be in trouble.”

TNT dictated the tempo of the series as early as possible in its commanding Game 1 display.

The Hotshots were subjected to their worst shooting performance of the season as they shot 27.4 percent from the field and that conversion rate was also the third-lowest in franchise history.

Back when it went by Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, Magnolia shot 26.6% in an 88-68 loss to Alaska on May 30 2008 and 27.3% in an 82-76 defeat to Rain or Shine on December 7, 2008.

TNT, for its part, shot a healthy 42% clip from the field and 35% from beyond the arc.

“The same goes for Game 2, how can we be better in Game 2 than when we were in Game 1?” said Reyes.