RR Pogoy is looking forward to strapping back into action when TNT Tropang Giga begins the last stage of its grand slam bid in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.
Sidelined since Game 3 of the semifinals, the high-scoring guard is confident that he’ll be back in top form once the Tropang 5G embark on an expected to be a grind-out best-of-seven championship series starting Sunday against either San Miguel Beer or Ginebra, who are still clashing in Game 7 of their best-of-seven semifinal series at press time.
Pogoy aggravated a left hamstring injury early in the second quarter of TNT’s 113-105 Game 2 overtime win over Rain or Shine on 27 June.
He skipped the rest of the series for the already shorthanded Tropang 5G, who had already lost veteran Jayson Castro to a season-ending knee injury during the Commissioner’s Cup Final Four and Rey Nambatac to a groin injury early in the all-Filipino conference.
Pogoy welcomed the early series-clincher, which gave TNT longer time for its banged-up and bruised roster to rest and recover.
The 33-year-old guard said he’s recovering well and expressed confidence that he’ll be good to go come game time.
“Yes, I’m slowly coming back. I expect to be back. In fact, if there’s a next game (in the semifinals), I’ll try my best to come back,” Pogoy said after TNT’s Game 6 victory over the same rival it has also sent packing in their first two semis pairings of Season 49.
With spare days before the finals, Pogoy is optimistic he’ll get the green light soon.
“For now, I’m doing some shooting. I have yet to start running. So now, I’m taking it slow,” he said.