The Talk ‘N Text TNT Tropang Giga is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Blackwater Bossing at 3:00 PM on February 15, 2023 live from the SM Mall of Asia Arena at Pasay City, Metro Manila.
TNT has been impressed with the performance of their import, Jalen Hudson. However, for the upcoming game against the struggling Blackwater Bossing on Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup at the MOA Arena, the Tropang Giga has decided to replace Hudson with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
TNT is seeking their fourth consecutive win to give them an overall record of 6-1 and is favored to win against Blackwater, who have lost their last four games and hold a 1-5 record overall. The team reportedly chose Hollis-Jefferson over Hudson because of his ability to provide more of an inside threat, which Hudson lacks, despite Hudson’s impressive averages of 33.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in the six games he played.
The game against Blackwater will reveal how well Hollis-Jefferson, a first-round pick by the Brooklyn Nets in 2015, who also had brief stints with the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trailblazers, can live up to expectations.
On the other hand, Blackwater has concerns regarding their import, Troy Williams, who has been a prolific scorer, averaging 47.5 points on top of 13.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two games he has played. However, Williams has committed nine turnovers in the games against Terrafirma and Rain or Shine, making coach Ariel Vanguardia question the 28-year-old’s decision-making.
“Gustong mag-take charge pero mali naman kung minsan,” said Blackwater head coach Ariel Vanguardia. “May spurts na effective… pero mga pang-kick out kailangan ma-recognize niya kasi ginawa ng Rain or Shine dino-double- or triple-team na siya. Hindi niya nakita ‘yung mga dapat kick-out na lang niya,” Vanguardia added.
Vanguardia believes Williams can still improve, and the team is trying to address their problem of giving up too many free throws. He also emphasized the need for teamwork in this tough stretch, where they will face Barangay Ginebra on Sunday and another top-echelon team in Converge four days later.
“Ipinakita namin sa video mga ginawa niya and fast learner naman siya. We also told him na this is a very tough stretch so kailangan may teamwork,” said Vanguardia. “Ikinatalo namin masyado kaming maraming ginive-up na free throws kaya dapat i-recognize namin ‘yung playing hard without fouling,” he added.