Chot: We gotta play smart

It’s not over until it’s over.

Head coach Chot Reyes and the rest of the TNT Tropang 5G charge into Game 6 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup finals against San Miguel Beer with the mindset that the series will go the full distance.

The Tropang 5G refuse to waive the white flag despite going down 2-3 in the best-of-seven title showdown.

Reyes’ marching order when TNT faces the defending champions Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena is to play smarter.

The Tropang 5G squandered an early 16-point advantage and allowed the Beermen led by big men Rodney Brondial and June Mar Fajardo to complete a comeback, 96-82, and move on the cusp of a title repeat on Friday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

“We’ve got to be smarter,” Reyes said, hoping to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

TNT raced to a 23-7 lead in the first quarter of Game 5 and looked headed to a repeat of its blowout win in Game 4 that tied the all-Filipino conference title rematch.

But 17 miscues, which San Miguel converted to 17 turnover points, and 23 fouls dragged the Tropang 5G down. It didn’t help that TNT, which played sans RR Pogoy (hamstring), failed to score off the fastbreak.   

“We have to be perfect to have a chance to beat San Miguel. If we shoot ourselves in the foot once again, there’s no hope of winning,” Reyes added.

Game 7, if necessary, is on Wednesday.