Game 7 was a sweet victory for RR Pogoy.
Pogoy, who waxed hot with 27 points on four-of-six shooting from the three-point area, said that this was the first time his team defeated the San Miguel Beermen in the playoffs since he was drafted by the TNT franchise in 2016.
"Sa five years ko sa PBA, palagi kaming natatalo talaga sa playoffs ng San Miguel so motivated talaga ako ngayon na sana man lang, kahit isa man lang. Kahit ngayon makabawi man lang kami," he said in the post-game presser on Sunday.
According to PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the Beermen under head coach Leo Austria had never beaten in a best-of-seven Philippine Cup series, do-or-die best-of-7s, in a Game 7, and overall in the playoffs when they played TNT. At least, not until coach Chot Reyes returned to the storied franchise.
The returning coach said a change in mindset was key in getting the 97-79 win over SMB.
"We told the players before the game, last night and today, 'If you had told me before the series that we're playing the series the first four games without our starting center, and we're going to play the last few games with our backup center with a fractured cheek bone, and then we are going to be in a 3-3 after six games, then we'll be very happy,'" Reyes said.
"We're so fortunate, we're so blessed to be even in this position," he said. "I think that's the most important thing. When we shifted that thinking and the players bought into it and they believed that. In the end, I thought that's what happened."
Reyes said he is also privileged to coach against a team like the Beermen.
"I didn't look at it as me against Leo, I looked at it as TNT vs San Miguel," he said.
"It was a great privilege for me to coach against a team like San Miguel. They're deep, they're talented, they're well-coached. If there were a game 8, I'm sure they would come back with another adjustment and kick our butts again," the TNT head coach added.
"For this series, I think the better team won, as the series scores show. But I know we will see each other again in the future," said Reyes. "For now, we're here, we're ready for the finals."
TNT will face the Magnolia Hotshots in the best-of-seven All-Filipino finals which is expected to start this week.
