TNT Tropang Giga during Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—TNT may be two games away from winning its second straight PBA Governors’ Cup title but that doesn’t mean the Tropang Giga will take their feet off the gas pedal just yet.
Following the squad’s Game 2 win over Ginebra, veteran Jayson Castro said that he and the team are in no position to be complacent.
Instead, they aim to take things one game at a time in hopes of winning the import-laden conference’s richest prize for the second straight season.
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“Actually, we’re not thinking we’re up,” said Castro after their 96-84 win at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
“Our thinking is to take one game at a time. Every game, we’ll give our best and whatever the result may be, as long as we give our best, we’re happy.”
Much of the Tropang Giga’s success so far in the series can be credited to their prolific defense that has stifled the Gin Kings for two straight games.
After averaging over 106.53 points per game as a squad, Ginebra was limited by Castro and company below 90 points–88 in Game 1 and 84 in Game 2.
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“I think it’s evident that from the start of the season, our focus is on defense. Maybe that’s why we’re winning games,” Castro Said.
It’s certainly helping the Tropang Giga’s cause that their veteran guard is performing like he’s back in his prime years.
After scoring 14 in Game 1, Castro dropped nine points on Wednesday but it was his passing that truly kickstarted TNT’s offense.
With seven assists, Castro is happy that his teammates were able to deliver with his passes, which will be fatal in TNT’s quest of “taking one game at a time.”
“I’m just so happy because the team’s core now is good. Last year, we had so many injuries but now, whoever you put in, their mentality is to defend, not even to score, but to defend,” he said.