Henry Galinato has this to say about the physicality in the PBA

TNT rookie Henry Galinato. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Don’t let Henry Galinato’s frame fool you, those hits he takes on a daily basis for TNT hurt despite his wide-bodied build.

In fact, when Galinato was asked to encapsulate what he felt every time he sees a player charging at him in the paint, the University of the Philippines product had only one word to say.

“In a word? Damn,” said Galinato after Tropang Giga’s dominant 133-93 win over Terrafirma in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

“It’s just basketball, though. Everybody wants to play physically and it’s just another step. PBA is the highest level of basketball in the Philippines so the difference between the UAAP and the PBA is, the players are younger. Now it’s just grown men so I have to get stronger and have the vets teach me the ways.”

Despite the strong bumps that the Dyip dealt Galinato, he finished with a near double-double of 15 points and eight rebounds in only 17 minutes of action.

To add more sparkle to arguably his best game in the young season so far, he only missed two of his nine shots from the field for a blistering 77.8 percent field goal shooting clip.

Galinato also held his own against PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week Javi Gomez de Liaño, who finished with 16 points and five boards.

His, literally, strong outing, though, is a testament that there’s still work to be done.

‘NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT… YET’

Henry Galinato during PBA Rookie Draft Day, before he was traded to TNT. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Even coach Jojo Lastimosa heaped praises on Galinato after his superb outing that pushed TNT to a 2-1 record.

“Oh man, he can take a beating,” said the Danny Floro Executive of the Year shortly after the dub.

“He hasn’t complained in practice. He is strong. He is not a hundred percent yet but you can feel his presence once he’s inside. He’s like a rock. I think he encourages the physicality inside.”

When Lastimosa said Galinato wasn’t “at a hundred percent,” he wasn’t referring to any ailing injuries.

What the veteran tactician meant by that was, that the big man still has some untapped potential he could work on as the season progresses.

“It’s just because he’s still in the strengthening phase. His glutes, quads and legs are weak. For such an athletic guy, his lower body is weak compared to his upper body.”

Galinato will continue to be tested on Sunday when Tropang Giga matches up with Meralco at Philsports Arena in Pasig.