San Beda’s Peter Alfaro playing for TNT. –PBA IMAGES
Coach Jojo Lastimosa admitted it was a challenge putting together TNT’s lineup in the PBA On Tour.
So don’t be surprised if the current roster looks way different from the team that pulled off a successful title run in the recent Governors’ Cup.
“We need to rest our vets,” Lastimosa said after the Tropang Giga debuted in the exhibition series on Friday with a 99-90 loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Those expecting a glimpse of core players like Mikey Williams and Jayson Castro may have to be realistic as TNT has ruled out their presence for the duration of the On Tour for various reasons.
1o players
TNT big man Poy Erram. –PBA IMAGES
“We have to rest Jayson as much as we can … as well as Kelly [Williams]. But they do show up in practice,” said Lastimosa. “Mikey is rehabbing his Achilles in the United States, RR [Pogoy] is in Cebu and Calvin [Oftana] is trying to get back his weight after his injury in the Southeast Asian Games.
“Basically, we don’t have our starting five,” added Lastimosa.
TNT only had 10 players during the contest, including Poy Erram, who later in the game twisted his right ankle and could miss at least a week. Glenn Khobuntin and Kib Montalbo are the other TNT regulars on the On Tour roster.
Roster holes
Even Lastimosa is not going to be hands-on for the On Tour, tapping assistant Sandy Arespacochaga to call the shots for a TNT squad infused with four players from San Beda University to fill roster holes.
Peter Alfaro, Clifford Jopia and Damie Cuntapay saw action in a Tropang Giga jersey for the On Tour debut while JV Gallego is expected to follow suit.
“It’s a big thing for the San Beda program and at the same time for the players so they can get some experience before the PBA Draft,” said assistant Yuri Escueta, who coaches San Beda.
“[W]e’re very lucky, especially the players that they were given a great opportunity to play in the On Tour,” added Escueta.