Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are embracing their new roles in TNT Tropang 5G, as the team continues to battle the injury bug in the PBA Philippine Cup. </p><p>With point guards Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac sidelined due to injuries, Heading is easing into his role as the primary playmaker of the team. </p><p>During the finals press conference on Friday, Heading said he tries to see the positive in being assigned the major role.</p><p>&quot;I wouldn&#x27;t really describe it as pressure but rather as responsibility as the next man up in terms of obviously huge holes with Jayson [Castro] and Rey [Nambatac] being out. There&#x27;s a little bit of room for the need for another creator,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;And I&#x27;m just trying to be that for this team if that&#x27;s what Coach Chot needs me to be. But anything that my role is I&#x27;m ready to do,&quot; Heading added. </p><p>The TNT guard said he&#x27;s grateful to be in this position with TNT, as they chase the historic grand slam.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/11/redemption-vs-history-san-miguel-tnt-ready-for-all-out-battle-in-pba-ph-cup-finals-2010"><strong>Redemption vs. history: San Miguel, TNT ready for all-out battle in PBA PH Cup finals </strong></a></div><p>Ganuelas-Rosser has also been seeing more minutes with Kelly Williams still out.</p><p>&quot;Whatever coach asks of me, I&#x27;m going to do. You know, my versatility is something that I try and lean on a lot, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But you know, I&#x27;ve been out for so long, you know, I&#x27;m still kind of getting my foot, my footing back together, my timing back,&quot; he shared. </p><p>&quot;So I know that, you know, this time of year, especially this part of the conference, you know, it&#x27;s very important. So, I just go out there and try to play my hardest, try to play my best and, you know, as long as I&#x27;m out there contributing, I know that I can do good things for the team,&quot; Ganuelas-Rosser explained.</p><p>TNT head coach Chot Reyes on Friday said Williams remains doubtful for Game 1 of the finals.  </p><p>Because of this, Ganuelas-Rosser said the whole team needs to step up to be able to guard San Miguel big man June Mar Fajardo.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s always a challenge. You know, they have a lot of great players over there but with June, you just have to make him work. You have to try and just get him off the spots,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;But it&#x27;s not just one player, not just me and Poy. It&#x27;s going to take the whole team. We talk about team defense a lot and that&#x27;s something that we rely on so it&#x27;s gonna take a total effort and you know we&#x27;ll just try our best good afternoon uh peter attention my standard,&quot; the big man added. </p><p>TNT&#x27;s Poy Erram said the whole team needs to work together on defense given the stacked line-up of the San Miguel Beermen.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lang naman talaga si June Mar yung kailangan mong bantayan. So, the team talaga, sobrang very talented team. Alam niyo naman na with June Mar, he attracts a lot. So it takes a lot sa amin,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/9/pba-la-tenorios-heroics-fueled-smbs-chris-ross-in-do-or-die-game-7-0054"><strong>PBA: LA Tenorio&#x27;s heroics fueled SMB&#x27;s Chris Ross in do-or-die Game 7 </strong></a></div><p>&quot;We have to play team defense. We don&#x27;t need to play individual defense.  Kasi individual, mahirapan kami. If we play team defense, then we have a chance,&quot; Erram added.</p><p>The veteran big man also said he is accepting his new role on the team.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre accepting the fact na I&#x27;m not young anymore. Pero kunwari may mga time na hindi maganda laro niya, I have to be ready any time. Kasi may mga times na kailangan pa rin ako ni coach eh,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Kahit na hindi niya ako gamitin, kailangan ready pa rin ako. Kahit na gamitin niya si Brandon na mahaba or siya mag-end ng game, kailangan ako pa rin. Be a leader pa rin,&quot; Erram explained.</p><p>TNT will begin its quest for a grand slam on Sunday when it takes on San Miguel in Game 1 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbjhiumJdcE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lylh6OUyWLs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are embracing their new roles in TNT Tropang 5G, as the team continues to battle the injury bug in the PBA Philippine Cup.</p>

Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are embracing their new roles in TNT Tropang 5G, as the team continues to battle the injury bug in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Heading, Ganuelas-Rosser embracing new roles for TNT amid team's injury woes

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Heading, Ganuelas-Rosser embracing new roles for TNT amid team's injury woes

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 11, 2025 11:43 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 12, 2025 04:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

PBA Season 49

PBA Philippine Cup

San Miguel Beermen

TNT Tropang 5G

Jordan Heading

Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser

Poy Erram

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