No animosity between ex-foes and now-TNT teammates as Tropang 5G gun for PBA record

Chris McCullough (right) has a chance at winning a second PBA title with a different team. — PBA IMAGES

Chris McCullough admits that he’s still in the process of being in sync with his teammates after three games into his role as TNT’s replacement import.

Getting along with RR Pogoy, whose history with McCullough has been a source of talk on social media, didn’t have complications, though.

“Oh, we’re friends, man,” McCullough said on Monday when select members of the Finals protagonists Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra gathered at Novotel Manila for the customary press conference before the best-of-seven series for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title.

That elicited laughs inside the ballroom where the two teams met one more time before the series gets going on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

McCullough and Pogoy were on opposing sides seven years ago in the championship series of the same conference between San Miguel and TNT.

There was one play in the opener of that series, which the Beermen eventually won, showing Pogoy sticking his tongue out at McCullough, a moment that was caught on television and was used as screenshots by netizens.

There was curiosity as to how the dynamics would be between McCullough and Pogoy when the import arrived to take the place of the injured Bol Bol. Those concerns quickly dissipated.

“Whatever happened seven years ago, happened seven years ago,” said McCullough before dapping with Pogoy, who was seated to his left. “I don’t pay no mind, but we’re friends. We talked about it in the past. I’ve seen tweets about it. So we’re good.”

TNT became just the second eighth-seeded team to reach the Finals, following Powerade’s runner-up showing in the 2011-12 Philippine Cup.

The Tropang 5G will be shooting to win it all and become the lowest seeded squad to do so after practically going through the wringer—bouncing back from a 6-6 record in the eliminations and the loss of Bol to an Achilles injury—with McCullough plus a local crew that is peaking at the right time.

Jordan Heading and Pogoy played key roles during the semis as TNT dislodged Meralco, 4-2, to set up a date with Ginebra.

TNT slammed the door shut on its fellow MVP Group team on Sunday with a 97-94 decision of the Bolts at the Ynares Center in Antipolo behind Heading’s 30 points.

“Those are nice things to hear,” said coach Chot Reyes on the prospect of being the lowest playoff seed to win a PBA title. “But in the end, it doesn’t really matter much for us. How we play against a very high-quality team, that’s all we’re thinking about.

“All of the other things, for me, it’s just noise. We’re not thinking about those things.” INQ