PBA: Jolas says RR Pogoy 'not going anywhere' amid trade rumors

As he gears up for a PBA comeback, RR Pogoy will remain with TNT, according to the team manager Jojo Lastimosa. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa quickly denied rumors that RR Pogoy is on the trading block.

Reacting to a report from Spin.PH columnist Homer Sayson, who claimed that the shooting guard is being offered to Blackwater for Sedrick Barefield, Lastimosa said that Pogoy is not "going anywhere."

"I just wanna say that there's no truth whatsoever to the rumors of Roger going anywhere," Lastimosa said in a video statement posted on the Tropang 5G's social media accounts on Wednesday night.

He added that there is no way that they will let go of one of their current pillars.

"Roger is the pillar of TNT, and I have no reason for Roger to be traded," Lastimosa further said, adding that any official roster update, whether an incoming trade, free agency signing, or import change, would only come from him or the rest of the team management.

"All you hear about--the outside noise--there's no truth to it."

He then called on the TNT fans to have some discretion on rumors floating and not to quickly believe in those unverified reports.

"Ang message ko lang is not to believe in what they hear in the media and other news, especially if it's not officially coming from TNT, kasi a lot of people are doing these headlines just to get some views. There's a lot of clicks going on to get some views so they can be talked about, and I don't like that," Lastimosa continued.

He then reminded the fans, "Yung mga katropa natin, just stay calm. There's nothing going on in the team. The team is doing great, and there's no reason to have a major change, especially in the name of Roger. It's so detrimental to the team if we change it right now. We're on a streak of going to the finals four straight times, so why break it?"

Lastimosa then said that fans should be in for a treat as the Tropang 5G begin their PBA Commissioner's Cup title defense on Friday night against the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

He said that Pogoy is expected to come back from a hamstring injury that derailed his Philippine Cup campaign.

"We have a good thing coming, and we're excited for Roger to come back from injury. I'm looking forward to this season, actually, and parang medyo matagal na masyadong nagantay. We're all excited about what we can do, especially with Bol (Bol) coming in," Lastimosa further said.