By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolodnon guard Kib Montalbo vows to stay ready for the TNT Tropang Giga in their 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals series with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings now at the homestretch.
According to the former De La Salle University Green Archers guard, he is always ready to answer the call of Tropang Giga head coach Jojo Lastimosa with the team shorthanded following the series-ending injury of Roger Pogoy.
Pogoy has been ruled out for the remainder of the championship series after sustaining a fractured finger injury during Game 3 of the series last Friday, April 14. He is also scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days.
“Ang mindset ko lang naman is to stay ready kasi wala si Roger,” Montalbo said.
“I want to help the team win the championship. Sabi nga ni Coach Jolas, nakita niya ‘yung attitude ko na ayaw matalo,” he said.
“I am here before the PBA Finals sa starting position din,” Montalbo said, pertaining to his time with TNT when they captured the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup championship.
“So this is nothing new to me,” he said.
Montalbo made his presence felt for the Tropang Giga in Game 4, as he scored 16 points, including three outside conversions, as they scored a 116-104 win over the Gin Kings to tie the best-of-seven championship series at 2-2 last Sunday, April 16.
Among Montalbo’s highlights in the said match is when he hit a 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer just before the halftime break that increased the Tropang Giga’s advantage to 59-41.
The former St. John’s Institute-Bacolod standout promised that he will try to contribute regardless of how many minutes he will be used as the Tropang Giga shoots for a 3-2 edge in Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
“I will just remain the same, kung ilang minutes ibibigay sa akin ni coach. I will play defense, provide energy. Ganun pa din, stay calm and do my job,’’ the Bacolodnon guard said.
“I will still put in the work no matter what happens. You never know what will happen in the finals, like itong injury ni Roger Pogoy. So ‘yun, I just want to stay ready,” Montalbo added./ASC, WDJ