Coach Chot Reyes of TNT stated that the PBA Philippine Cup victory on Sunday was significant given the way this conference has evolved.

Reyes stated that every team in the conference, including the bottom-dwelling ones, has improved their roster and is now leaving their mark. These include the teams they lost to in this conference, NorthPort and Blackwater.

After defeating Meralco, TNT improved to 3-3, but the Tropang Giga had earlier losses to NorthPort and Blackwater—two teams who not only strengthened this conference but also outperformed them in their games.

TNT still has a lot of catching up to do after the victory over Meralco, as San Miguel leads the way with a 4-0 record, followed by NLEX (5-1) and NorthPort (4-1).

According to Reyes, the other teams’ progress has made the playoff path even more challenging. San Miguel, the Commissioner’s Cup winners this season, has also grown more powerful than before.

Reyes stated that while TNT is working to strengthen its roster, it did not have the extra time to focus on the team’s cohesiveness during the customary offseason training camp.

Reyes stated that as the conference goes on, he and his coaching staff must improve to make up for it.

While, on the other hand, Barangay Ginebra insisted that Christian Standhardinger’s benching during the fourth quarter of their matchup with Terrafirma was mostly a coaching move.

Since the group of LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Sidney Onwubere, Jamie Malonzo, and Maverick Ahanmisi also made the effort to keep the team afloat with each Terrafirma run, Deputy Richard Del Rosario said the coaching staff decided it was best to keep the seasoned Fil-German on the bench.

In an uphill battle against a highly motivated Terrafirma team, head coach Tim Cone gave Del Rosario the opportunity to take command from the bench early in the second half.
With 4:31 remaining in the game, Tenorio and company rallied the Kings from an early 11-point deficit to within 81-75.

However, in the last 2:43, Dyip responded mightily, cutting the deficit to 86-75 with two three-pointers from rookie big man Kiemark Carino and a step-back jumper from Juami Tiongson.

With 21 points in just three quarters, Standhardinger actually led Barangay Ginebra in scoring, but he was also a member of the starting five that, along with Stanley Pringle, who finished with two points, never came back into the game in the fourth.

Standhardinger has already stated that he has no issue with the coaching staff’s choice to stick with Aguilar and Onwubere in the closing minutes.