MANILA, Philippines – Three important players are still absent from TNT’s continuing PBA Governors Cup campaign.

The Tropang Giga were missing Roger Pogoy, Kelly Williams, the former MVP, and sophomore big man Henry Galinato for the second consecutive game.

Pogoy is dealing with a back problem, Williams is troubled by a calf strain, and Galinato is out with a slight sprain of his MCL.

Coach Chot Reyes said that Galinato may be out for up to a month, while Pogoy and Williams are out on a day-to-day basis.

“Roger still has some back issues, although the MRI showed no major structural damage,” Reyes stated.

Pogoy participated in some light shooting drills with the Tropang Giga before their practice versus Meralco.

“Pero may nararamdaman pa rin siya, so he’s really a day-to-day,” Reyes said.

The situation is the same for Williams, 42.

Regarding Williams’ condition, the TNT coach stated, “Depending on how quickly the pain in his calf will subside to make it tolerable for him to jump.”

According to Reyes, the seasoned power forward just had a minor strain or pulled calf injury, which requires rest in order to heal.

The reigning champs, however, held the fort and recorded a second consecutive victory by defeating Meralco, 93-73, on Thursday night to take the lead in Group A despite the lack of players.

Meanwhile, Kings and E-Painters engaged in a heated argument in Candon

After a legal triumph for Philippine sports, ASIAN Games hero Justin Brownlee finally returns to his best with Barangay Ginebra, facing a Rain or Shine team led by a very happy coach.

And on Saturday night at the Candon City Arena in Candon, Ilocos Sur, is going to be an exciting match for the people of Ilocandia.

Next game is up having the Gin Kings looking to make a victorious PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup debut while the Elasto Painters are aiming for their second straight victory.

The E-Painters recently defeated the Blackwater Bossing 110-97, but coach Yeng Guiao is still celebrating a bigger win when the Supreme Court granted his plea to have Pagcor’s remittance to the Philippine Sports Commission.

Yeng Guiao contemplated the much-needed triumph for Philippine sports as the nation at last achieved its first-ever overall Southeast Asian Games title. The seasoned coach and sports advocate said he was happy with the results and that years of patience and perseverance had led to it. He underlined how important this accomplishment is to the next round of Filipino sports fans.

Guiao’s remarks emphasized the difficult path that resulted in this victory. He admitted that sometimes it felt like he was fighting alone against insurmountable obstacles. But in the end, the perseverance and commitment of Filipino players, coaches, and officials paid off.

The coach shared his aspirations for Philippine sports in the future. In order to maximize the potential of this triumph, he underlined the significance of responsible leadership. Guiao urged those in charge of sports administration to use the assets and positive momentum created by this triumph to advance and improve the nation’s athletic initiatives.

This historic accomplishment is viewed as a turning moment in Philippine sports history, one that could encourage more young Filipinos to pursue athletic careers and improve the nation’s reputation in the world of international sports. The overall victory is evidence of the skill, diligence, and tenacity of Filipino competitors in a variety of sports.

Under an Executive Order from the Office of the President issued during Fidel V. Ramos’ term, the PSC’s share of Pagcor’s “net income” (i.e., 2.5 percent of its gross income) has decreased to just approximately 2.1375 percent of its gross income since 1993, all because of a different interpretation by Pagcor.

Prior to their game against the Gin Kings in Candon on Thursday, Guiao celebrated his victory as a fighter for the application of the law.

For the Kings, the much anticipated homecoming of longstanding resident import Brownlee will be the highlight of the Candon encounter.

PBA Season 48 was missed by Brownlee due to a doping issue from the most recent Asian Games. Tony Bishop was then added by Ginebra, and he helped the club get to the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.