Vosotros cements spot in TNT roster

Almond Vosotros already made a strong case for his spot in the TNT roster, whatever the result of the Tropang 5G’s campaign in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals may be.

Tapped late in the elimination round to fill the depleted backcourt of TNT, the veteran guard earned his keep through his contributions whenever head coach Chot Reyes called his number.

Vosotros has stepped up big time in their best-of-seven championship duel against San Miguel Beer.

The 35-year-old former 3x3 star particularly played clutch in Game 5 last Wednesday to help the Tropang 5G stave off elimination and keep their grand slam bid alive.

Vosotros, who was not fielded in the first two games of the series, nailed crucial baskets in the fourth quarter to keep TNT at a safe distance when the Beermen were making a run in the Tropang 5G’s 86-78 escape.

He scored five of his 11 points in the payoff period and added two assists, one rebound and one steal in 18 and a half minutes of play.

“We’ve all known his game. He’s no stranger to big games. He’s had a lot of big games in his career, both internationally and in 3x3,” Reyes said, referring to his player, whose contract with the team will expire this month.

“So, he just came, he’s just ready, he’s just ready to deliver.”

Vosotros, who has been averaging 9.3 points per game in the series, was signed by TNT just last May, with the franchise dealing with injuries at the guard spot.

Reyes needed someone familiar with his system to fill the gap after Jayson Castro suffered a season-ending knee injury followed by Rey Nambatac going down with a pulled groin and Jielo Razon undergoing an appendectomy.

Vosotros fit the bill.

He was supposed to go on a long-planned vacation to Japan with his family, but he immediately canceled it when TNT management called him up and gave him a second chance to play.

Vosotros debuted with 12 points on 4-of-7 field goal shooting in the Tropang 5G’s 94-70 win over NorthPort during the eliminations.

Vosotros is needed more than ever with Simon Enciso also out due to a fractured orbital bone as TNT tries to force a do-or-die Game 7 at press time at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

He admitted that his relief role is no easy task.

“It was a bit difficult,” he said.

“It was difficult because the players we lost were with Coach Chot’s rotation. I need to be more focused. I think the most important thing for me is my decision-making, especially in offense,” Vosotros added.

Reyes is just glad Vosotros readily embraced the challenge of holding the exhausted and banged-up team together.

“We’ve lost our top three, our three starting point guards. We’ve lost them, Jason, Rey, and now Simon. So just next man up,” the 11-time champion mentor said.

“We’re fortunate that we were able to sign him late in the elimination round. So that gives us another option at that position.”

So, the answer to the question of whether Vosotros will get a contract extension with TNT is already a no-brainer.