PBA: Chot Reyes concedes after Game 2 loss: 'We were outworked'

TNT coach Chot Reyes believes his team was "outworked" in Game 2. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--TNT coach Chot Reyes kept it curt when asked about what happened in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Reyes quickly left the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night after conceding a 92-98 defeat to San Miguel that forced a 1-1 deadlock in the best-of-seven series, but not without entertaining a few questions from some reporters who still got to talk to him after exiting the dugout.

"We were outworked. They wanted the game more than we did, and we lost in the effort of our players," Reyes said.

With the Beermen muscling their way inside, the Tropang 5G fell to a 13-point hole near the end of the first half.

TNT got its three-point game going in the third quarter to eventually force a 78-all tie early in the fourth, but in the end, the team's inside game struggles, highlighted by a botched wide-open layup by Brian Heruela, proved fatal to its hopes.

SMB held its opponent to a dismal 39.4 percent, and in an uncommon moment, TNT attempted more shots from beyond the three-point arc (40) than inside of it (31).

The Tropang 5G also committed 17 turnovers, 11 in the first half and five more in the fourth quarter, where they began imploding.

Calvin Oftana, who sizzled in the third to spark their comeback, was held scoreless in the fourth even as RR Pogoy, who waxed hot in Game 1 despite his hamstring injury, went ice cold in Game 2.

However, Reyes declined to comment about the motivation of the Beermen in Game 2, three nights after a controversial ending to Game 1 left them fuming.

"You have to ask them," Reyes simply said before quickly leaving the fabled arena.

For sure, though, TNT should be motivated to get back at SMB when Game 3 tips off on Friday night back at "The Big Dome", although the injury to Poy Erram could dampen the Tropang 5G a bit.

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