By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT head coach Chot Reyes is no way looking past rookie coach Aldin Ayo and Converge, noting that the young FiberXers pose huge threat to the Tropang Giga when they clash in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Oct.28.
The Tropang Giga and FiberXers have an identical 3-2 record and are both looking to move up to the third spot of the standings when they collide at 3 p.m. which will come before Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Terrafirma Dyip tangle at 5:45 p.m.
TNT is coming off a week-long break which according to Reyes will be crucial for the team to recuperate from its injuries and be in tip-top shape if it wishes its defense to put the cuffs on Converge’s league-leading offense among local teams at 108 points per game.
“That rest is going to allow us to make sure that we are in the best level of fitness because they love to run, push the ball hard every opportunity and it’s going to test our endurance and our stamina and coming off our injuries to be at that level,” said Reyes
“We have to be able to match their pace because that’s how Converge is able to beat other teams, their constant pace,” he added.
The dreaded backcourt of Mikey Williams and Jayson Castro along with potent scoring threats in RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana and import Cam Oliver are expected to carry the fight against Converge, which on the other hand, is powered by import Quincy Miller and his supporting cast in Maverick Ahanmisi, Jeric Teng and recently Aljun Melecio and Mike DiGregorio.
Reyes is also bracing for a tough chess match in the sidelines when he faces up against Ayo who he regarded as one of the young up-and-coming coaches in the country, for the first time.
“I don’t regard Aldin as a newcomer. Aldin, I’ve been watching him since he started coaching and I’m very, very impressed. He’s really one of the really good young coaches coming up. I’m not surprised how well Converge is playing under his watch so that’s going to be a huge test for us,” Reyes said of the young FiberXers mentor.
“Not only the way they are playing and the way coach Ayo is coaching but Quincy Miller is doing a really good job, their import fits perfectly and like I said it’s something that is going to be a big test for us. We know that’s going to be a great hurdle. They’re the no.1 offensive team in the league so that’s going to be a big test for our defense,” he added.
Meanwhile in the second game, the Gin Kings also eye a share of the third spot when they tangle against the lowly Dyip.
Ginebra looks to follow-up its impressive 103-97 victory over rival Magnolia last time out thanks to the heroics of reigning MVP Scottie Thompson and import Justin Brownlee.
The Dyip, meanwhile, hope to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the season as it tries to end a 22-game misery but will need all of their players led by Juami Tiongson, Lester Prosper and Alex Cabagnot to be on the same page.
