TNT rookie Pogoy 'shocked' with crucial playing minutes

MANILA, Philippines – When Blackwater found their backs against the wall, they were looking at Mac Belo for help. But another FEU graduate took on the challenge – veteran Denok Miranda.

And when TNT took on the floor the next game, another product of the Tamaraws program basked in the limelight: Roger Pogoy.

Playing for the first time in the PBA Sunday night, Pogoy scattered 15 markers and hauled three rebounds. But that opportunity came to him as a shocker, considering KaTropa was stacked with grizzled players.

"Na-surprise ako kasi maraming veterans sa team namin. Na-shock ako na ginamit ako noong crucial moments na eh," he said.

"Sobrang saya ko kasi binibigyan nila ako ng opportunity at di ko naman sasayangin at gagawin ko yung best ko,” he added.

But the rookie said it's all thanks to figure who has known him in his amateur years: his former collegiate coach Nash Racela.

"Malaking tulong kasi alam na niya 'yung laro, ko kaya may tiwala na. Mataas din kumpyansa ko kasi parang mga papa ko na sila coach Nash, sila coach Josh," he said.

Earlier, Belo flashed his lethal form against last conference's Finalists. He finished with 25 points to lead the Elite in scoring. Pogoy and Belo belong to the trioka of rookies from the Gilas draft produced by FEU. They all debuted with double-digit scores, and more importantly, with the wins.

So were the wins a portent of things to come?

Pogoy hopes so. He even jested that it's the "Day of the Tamaraws" on Wednesday, when his college team and Racela take on Ateneo one last time for a berth in the UAAP Finals.

"Nalaman ko na (si Mac Belo) 'yung Best Player. 'Di na ako nagulat kasi alam natin 'yung kakayanan niya," Pogoy noted. "Alam ko din kung laano maglaro si Raymar (Jose, who posted 20 points and 23 rebounds in SAtuday's UAAP Final Four game). Ganoon talaga."

"Patuloy 'yan hanggang Wednesday, dire-diretso na," adde Pogoy, who won the UAAP title with Belo last year.

"Dapat di nila isipin na bata sila. Big moment na 'yan, pang-Finals na so dapat isipin nila na kaya nila 'yan."