Fresh legs

Saved for a hamstring-troubled guard RR Pogoy, the Tropang 5G are coming into the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup healthier and with the benefit of longer rest.

Head coach Chot Reyes expressed confidence in TNT’s chances of getting back at the Beermen in the best-of-seven finals series erupting on Wednesday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

The Tropang 5G are taking a cautious approach to Pogoy’s situation day-to-day.

But aside from that, TNT has enough firepower to challenge San Miguel with top guard Rey Nambatac, big man Poy Erram and veteran Simon Enciso back in top form for the all-Filipino conference rematch.

Nambatac missed the Philippine Cup finals last year due to a groin injury. On the other hand, Enciso suffered a fractured orbital bone and Erram hurt his knee during the course of the finals that went San Miguel’s way.

The Beermen denied TNT of a grand slam in Season 49, closing the series in six games.

Reyes hopes a different ending will be written this time in Tropang 5G’s fourth straight finals stint.

“Obviously, in the last finals, we didn’t have Rey Nambatac, and then we lost Enciso in Game 4 and Erram in Game 5. And we also didn’t have Jayson Castro that time,” recalled Reyes, who, that time also had to play winger Jordan Heading despite his nagging back issues that have since healed.

“Hopefully, having Rey Nambatac in, the addition of Jio Jalalon, and a healthy Poy Erram, I hope it makes a difference. We all know how strong that team is,” he added.

TNT had some extra rest after finishing off Meralco, 99-96, in Game 5 of the semifinals last Wednesday.

San Miguel, meanwhile, needed a Game 6 to get rid of Barangay Ginebra and advance to a second straight championship appearance.

“We really have in the back of our minds that hopefully, we’ll have more time to rest. Our learning from last time in the finals where we lost, we almost didn’t finish the series. Our players were riddled with injuries,” Reyes said.

“We know the importance of rest and recovery in a series. So, it’s imperative to have enough rest.”

Even with a weeklong break, TNT is not rushing the return of Pogoy after sustaining a Grade 1 hamstring injury in Game 4. He sat out the semis series-clincher.

“But you know how it is. Pulled hamstring, that’s very unpredictable. It really is going to depend on how quickly he can heal,” Reyes said.

“But one thing that’s sure is that we’re not going to rush him back. We’re going to play him when he’s ready. We’re not going to force him and use him at 50 or 60 percent. We’re not going to risk that. Like I said, it’s very unpredictable.”

Pogoy suffered the same injury last conference that forced him to miss some games during the playoffs.