TNT import joins team practice; Hotshots, Dyip swap players
TNT import McKenzie Moore. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The team looking to sweep the titles up for grab this season has finally trained with a full roster on Thursday, as McKenzie Moore joined the Tropang Giga’s buildup for the PBA Governors’ Cup.
TNT is hoping Moore will help the team add to its Philippine Cup conquest earlier this year, but coach Chot Reyes knows not to expect too much from his reinforcement. At least for now.
The multititled mentor, however, is a fan of one facet of Moore’s game that should come in handy in the season-ending conference currently ruled by crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra and its resident import Justin Brownlee.
“We like his versatility, among other things,” Reyes said of the 6-foot-6 swingman, who arrived in the country last Saturday.
Moore is no longer a stranger to the TNT core of Jayson Castro, Roger Pogoy and Troy Rosario as he already suited up for the Tropang Giga in a pocket tournament in Macau.
The 29-year-old American also played alongside Mikey Williams, TNT’s rookie scoring dynamo, with the Mighty Sports-Go For Gold Philippines squad skippered by Joseph Yeo that swept the Jones Cup back in 2019.
Meanwhile, Magnolia, which battled TNT in that All-Filipino title showdown, traded Justin Melton and Kyle Pascual for Terrafirma’s 6-foot-10 James Laput.
The deal was approved and made official by the league on Thursday afternoon, while the second leg of the PBA’s 3×3 tournament was being played.
Coincidentally, the Dyip also made headlines on Wednesday night after its 3×3 ward Roider Cabrera lost consciousness in the team’s dugout.
