Katropa U

Trying the college approach.
(Photo credit: Inquirer.net)

When Nash Racela took over for Jong Uichico as head coach of TNT Katropa in the off-season, he made two things clear: 1) the return of the dribble drive offense and 2) TNT will play like a college team.

So far, both points have come into fruition though the team is currently standing on a shaky win-loss record. Honestly, they could have easily been closer to the top, but they were surprisingly bested by cellar-dwelling sister teams Meralco (Ed Daquioag went HAM) and NLEX (Pampanga homecourt).

A closer look at TNT shows that 10 guys are playing 20+ minutes per game with six scoring in double digits. What is even more surprising is that Larry Fonacier is leading the team in minutes with 28mpg 11ppg 3rg 2apg followed by star guard Jayson Castro 27/19/3/6, while both coming off the bench. They are supported by Troy Rosario 25/13/7/1 , Ryan Reyes, 24/7/3/3, Roger Pogoy 23/6/3/1, Ranidel de Ocampo 22/13/6/3 and Kelly Williams 21/10/6/1.
So yes, we have probably seen the last of that un-TNT-like isolation heavy "hero-ball" that was showcased last season and are back to the social media coined "TNT (boring) death machine."

What we would like to see from TNT is some continuity from whenever Castro is not on the floor. Coach Nash has done a great job in using Matt Rosser (and somehow reviving his young career) but it appears that the long-haired, long-limed Swiss Army Knife still has a lot of maturation to go through as a full-fledged point guard. Kris Rosales has shown flashes, but is not as cerebral as Castro or even Ryan Reyes, who was actually a decent point guard earlier in his PBA career.

As for their glut of forwards, they are a luxury to have but might be a bit of a problem come the reinforced conferences. None of them are quick enough, laterally, to switch to small forward though Rosario continues to impress.

Honestly, we feel that the Texters are primed and poised to make a deep Playoff run in Coach Nash first conference with the team. Hopefully, they don't run out of gas as is the case with most PBA teams (with aging veterans and a long history of injuries) who mimic the up-and-down tempo of the college game.

It's still 50-50 at this point with what we'd like to call "Nash-ketball."

#sorrynotsorry