WITH the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) hinting that the soonest the Governors’ Cup could resume is next month, TNT Tropang Giga’s spitfire rookie Mikey Williams and do-it-all veteran Troy Rosario have no choice but to toe the line in terms of training under strict health protocols.
“It’s definitely tough, it’s a setback,” Williams told BusinessMirror on Sunday. “I was looking forward to the games coming up and continuing to build with the team. We put in a lot of work to prepare and then we get hit with this.”
Williams was TNT’s fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, but made a strong impact when his team won the Philippine Cup over Magnolia in five games last year. He averaged 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists to run away with the Finals MVP trophy.
“Everything’s just about individual workout for now,” said the former Sioux Falls Skyforce guard in the National Basketball Association’s G League.
Rosario, on the other hand, is still fully recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him in Game 5 of the all-Filipino Finals against Magnolia.
“I’m hoping to get back once the league resumes,” said the 6-foot-7 Rosario, who’s optimistic that TNT could also win the Governors’ Cup for as long as everyone at TNT stays healthy. “We’re not getting any younger anymore but as long as we’re healthy the whole conference, we can absolutely do it.”
The Tropang Giga were 2-2 won-lost before the games were shuttered.
The PBA indefinitely suspended play in the Governors’ Cup because of the sudden surge in Covid-19 infections with Commissioner Willie Marcial dismissing a resumption this month.
“Anything is possible—depending on the situation in February,” said Marcial, who added the Smart Araneta Coliseum could be a permanent venue for the Governors’ Cup. “We’ll just have to monitor what’s happening every day or week.”
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