It’s next man up for TNT after guard RR Pogoy is ruled out for Game 5 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals and possibly the next couple of outings after re-injuring his hamstring.
Pogoy sustained the injury with just a minute and four seconds in of action in the Tropang 5G’s 102-83 rout of Meralco in Game 4 for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
He went down writhing in pain and exited the game for good with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
Pogoy felt something flick on his left hamstring, the same injury he suffered in the previous all-Filipino conference playoffs. It was diagnosed as a Grade 1 tear, needing at least two weeks of recovery.
“May pumitik. I felt something,” said Pogoy, who ended his night before even attempting a shot.
“I think this is the same injury I got last year. I’ve already felt some pain in the last game (Game 3) and aggravated it tonight. But it’s just a Grade 1 (injury), just a little strain.”
Pogoy added that he’ll have to sit out Wednesday’s first attempt of TNT to advance to a fourth straight finals appearance.
“Malabo. I won’t be able to play,” he said.
Head coach Chot Reyes has accepted the fact that he will be one man down for some time and challenged his wards to step up.
“There’s no secret that Roger is a big part of what we do offensively and defensively. He’s our best perimeter defensive player,” Reyes said of his prized backcourt piece.
“And without him, again, it’s just the next man up. Next man up. Injuries are part of any kind of tournament, any kind of playoff run,” he added.
“So, we just have to continue to figure out ways and make adjustments.”