TNT shooter Roger Pogoy is facing the biggest battle of his life.
Diagnosed with myocarditis, a heart condition, Pogoy will miss the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup that begins 5 November so his ailment can be monitored carefully by experts.
TNT team manager and head coach Jojo Lastimosa admits Pogoy is a crucial part of the rotation but the inclusion of Governors’ Cup Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson should fill in the void that will be left by the former Gilas Pilipinas standout.
“He’s (Pogoy) one of our scoring options and primary perimeter defender,” said Lasitmosa in a Viber message. “We will miss all our rotation players, but we will have to figure out how to cover for their loss.”
Pogoy was supposed to be included in the Gilas Pilipinas Asian Games pool, but didn’t push through because of the medical findings.
The former Far Eastern University star also failed to suit up for Gilas in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May. Gilas won the gold medals in both events.
He last saw action during the FIBA World Cup.
Aside from Pogoy, big men Justin Chua and Poy Erram are still being sidelined by separate knee injuries while Calvin Oftana is also recovering from his previous injury while playing for Gilas Pilipinas in Hangzhou.
But TNT will be bringing in new players, including veteran big man Jewel Ponferada and rookie Henry Galinato, who were both acquired by the Tropang Giga from Rain or Shine.
