TALK N Text coach Chot Reyes usually has a lot to say when asked about his comments on his team's upcoming game.
Not this time, however.
"One miss we die!" was Reyes' terse reply on the eve of his Tropang Texters' collision with Meralco Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup semifinal round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
There's really no need for him to say more.
Following a sorry 91-94 loss to B-Meg last Saturday, TNT is now put in a situation where it must sweep its last four games to fan its hopes of at least playing off for the second finals slot.
A loss would leave Texters' fate on the other contenders' hands, a scenario unthinkable for the franchise and its equally proud tactician.
Meralco is out of the race to the finals following back-to-back losses to Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine. But coach Ryan Gregorio does not want his Bolts to go out with a mere whimper in their first-ever semis stint.
"We want to finish our last three games in grand fashion. We've dropped our last two games and we want to bounce back and get back on the winning track," said Gregorio.
Adding to Reyes' concerns is the fact B-Meg takes on Petron Blaze in the nightcap, with the Llamados aiming for a second straight semis win that would move them closer to idle leader Rain or Shine while putting more distance between them and the rest of the field.
Wins by TNT and Petron, however, will narrow the gap and that's what everybody at the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned squad is hoping for.
First, TNT must take care of its own end of the business.
Meralco notched a first-ever victory over TNT to the tune of 105-99 when they met May 23 in the eliminations. But that was when the Texters were still without key players in Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams.
Gregorio is undaunted, however, and his team should play better now with less pressure on their shoulders.
"We are hopeful that our last three games will give us the needed experience to get better in the long run," he stated.(NC)
Source: PBA.ph
