MANILA – Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are embracing their new roles in TNT Tropang 5G, as the team continues to battle the injury bug in the PBA Philippine Cup.
With point guards Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac sidelined due to injuries, Heading is easing into his role as the primary playmaker of the team.
During the finals press conference on Friday, Heading said he tries to see the positive in being assigned the major role.
"I wouldn't really describe it as pressure but rather as responsibility as the next man up in terms of obviously huge holes with Jayson [Castro] and Rey [Nambatac] being out. There's a little bit of room for the need for another creator," he said.
"And I'm just trying to be that for this team if that's what Coach Chot needs me to be. But anything that my role is I'm ready to do," Heading added.
The TNT guard said he's grateful to be in this position with TNT, as they chase the historic grand slam.
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Ganuelas-Rosser has also been seeing more minutes with Kelly Williams still out.
"Whatever coach asks of me, I'm going to do. You know, my versatility is something that I try and lean on a lot, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But you know, I've been out for so long, you know, I'm still kind of getting my foot, my footing back together, my timing back," he shared.
"So I know that, you know, this time of year, especially this part of the conference, you know, it's very important. So, I just go out there and try to play my hardest, try to play my best and, you know, as long as I'm out there contributing, I know that I can do good things for the team," Ganuelas-Rosser explained.
TNT head coach Chot Reyes on Friday said Williams remains doubtful for Game 1 of the finals.
Because of this, Ganuelas-Rosser said the whole team needs to step up to be able to guard San Miguel big man June Mar Fajardo.
"It's always a challenge. You know, they have a lot of great players over there but with June, you just have to make him work. You have to try and just get him off the spots," he said.
"But it's not just one player, not just me and Poy. It's going to take the whole team. We talk about team defense a lot and that's something that we rely on so it's gonna take a total effort and you know we'll just try our best good afternoon uh peter attention my standard," the big man added.
TNT's Poy Erram said the whole team needs to work together on defense given the stacked line-up of the San Miguel Beermen.
"Hindi lang naman talaga si June Mar yung kailangan mong bantayan. So, the team talaga, sobrang very talented team. Alam niyo naman na with June Mar, he attracts a lot. So it takes a lot sa amin," he said.
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"We have to play team defense. We don't need to play individual defense. Kasi individual, mahirapan kami. If we play team defense, then we have a chance," Erram added.
The veteran big man also said he is accepting his new role on the team.
"Siyempre accepting the fact na I'm not young anymore. Pero kunwari may mga time na hindi maganda laro niya, I have to be ready any time. Kasi may mga times na kailangan pa rin ako ni coach eh," he said.
"Kahit na hindi niya ako gamitin, kailangan ready pa rin ako. Kahit na gamitin niya si Brandon na mahaba or siya mag-end ng game, kailangan ako pa rin. Be a leader pa rin," Erram explained.
TNT will begin its quest for a grand slam on Sunday when it takes on San Miguel in Game 1 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.