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CLARK, Pampanga – The TNT franchise changed its name from KaTropa to Tropang Giga prior to the start of the PBA reboot to further emphasize its drive for mobile internet use.
In the past, communication via cell phones was only done with calls and texts, one reason why the franchise shortened its name from Talk ‘N Text to TNT. Now it’s all about mobile data, which consumers need to play games, stream videos, connect through social media, and even attend classes online.
True to its team name, TNT Tropang Giga, which is currently doing well in the 2020 PBA Philippines Cup, has found that one of the solutions to the new challenges presented by the PBA bubble is innovation based on a constant connection to the Internet.
Before going to Clark, Pampanga, the PBA teams were told to limit their delegation to just 25 staff members, 15 of whom are players, due to the limited number of rooms at the Quest Hotel. The teams had to balance the rest of the 10 spaces between coaches, physical therapists and staff.
One of the TNT coaches who stayed out of the PBA bubble was Josh Reyes, who was awaiting the birth of his first child. Knowing that late arrivals would not be allowed and that no one exiting Clark’s bubble would not be able to re-enter, TNT management decided to leave Reyes out.
“During the confinement, I did everything possible to stay productive,” explained Reyes. “We did our best to help the players manage their conditioning, but TNT management instructed us to find ways to educate ourselves so that we didn’t waste the time we had on our hands.”
Through his search for tools that could help him become a better assistant coach for TNT, Reyes came across Luceo Sports, a company that creates apps that help coaches better teach the game and players understand more tactics. Quick. Management saw how useful the technology could be, especially with meeting constraints in the middle of the blackout period, so they decided it was worth a try.
The app, called ASSIST, is a digestible tool for Tropang Giga players to study the team manual on their own; all they need to do is download the app and make sure they are connected to the internet. TNT coaches populate the app with their offensive schematics and inject scouting videos that would help them strategize their defense.
The tool has proven effective for the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns in the NBA.
“The great thing about this app is that it makes learning a little more fun,” Reyes explained.
The app can even test players’ knowledge and understanding of the game plan by questioning them about their designed plays.
“Everything is available in the application. You just have to indicate in which position you are playing and it will tell you what you should do in each play we have,” Reyes went further. “So when they’re on the bus or in their rooms, they always have the option to study more. Practice goes much smoother when players already have a clear idea of what to do.”
The playbook and scouting reports are interactive, filled with animations and clips, and even feature a coach’s voice-over option. The minutes of use of the application and the scores of the memory games of each player are also controlled.
TNT Tropang Giga team manager Gabby Cui agreed that the ASSIST app has helped them a lot, especially for new players like JP Erram.
“All of our players can watch our plays through animation anytime, anywhere on their mobile devices using the Smart 5G network,” he said.
“These are very challenging times. We are not used to training from afar,” Reyes closed. “We are not used to not seeing our team. That is why we have to be very creative with our solutions and take advantage of the options that we have available.”
