TNT should not rebuild because they are a legit title contender

(c) PBA Media Bureau

If you are a TNT fan, I feel bad for you. I am pretty sure it will be really hard to forget the game 2 of the 2019 Commissioner's Cup finals. You have the lead. They only need to make free-throws to seal a 2-0 series advantage. They failed. Not once, twice, thrice but four times. 

Then you again saw game 5. You entered the 4th quarter with a double-digit cushion. And then failed to protect it.

With those failures and knowing that Terrence Jones was the biggest reason of your success, it is easy to fall into believing that it is time to break the core. Castro is already 33. And Troy Rosario, RR Pogoy and Don Trollano are...

Wait. Yes. You nailed it. Other than Jayson Castro, three of the four key local players in the finals are 27 years old!

Yes, Rosario, Pogoy and Trollano are all 27 years old! They are not even in their prime yet. Then, we should also add the fact that Brian Heruela is only 30 years old and Yousef Taha is only 31 years old. 

The point is clear. The core of TNT is young and in-prime. Yes. They will need to find a replacement for Jayson Castro soon but what Heruela have shown has been satisfying enough for me to  believe that he can be the next starting point guard of a championship caliber team.

Wait. I forgot about Anthony Semerad and his brother, David Semerad. Speaking of Anthony Semerad, did you saw him in the finals? 

Of course, you did not. He was not there. He was injured. Same with Ryan Reyes and Kelly Williams. Believe it or not, TNT missed more players due to injury than San Miguel. 

Anthony Semerad is only 28 years old. 

Add all of those facts and what TNT needs to do is not to rebuild but to continue in their path. They do need to cultivate their frontline and backcourt but for the next year and so, they need to stay on track. 

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