Khobuntin the warrior ready for another go next season
TNT role player Glenn Khobuntin and his fellow Tropang 5G may not have completed the Grand Slam following their PBA Philippine Cup Finals loss to San Miguel Beer, but the reliable forward still set a tremendous record regardless.
In Game 6 of the season-ending series on Friday at Philsports Arena, Khobuntin officially set the record for most games played in a single season with 75, after the National U product came off the bench in what turned out to be the Beermen’s return-to-the-throne game after a 107-96 win.
Those were a lot of games, most of them helping the Tropang 5G win two of the three championships staked in the year.
And was it an exacting task to play those many games?
“Of course, it gets tiring eventually, but I’m happy playing basketball and doing this,” Khobuntin told the Inquirer with a smile despite missing out on the Triple Crown feat, which wasn’t helped by the fact that injuries took a toll on many of TNT’s standouts for the season.
“This is what makes me happy,” Khobuntin said. “My family’s happy when they watch me play and that’s what drives me. It gives me grit.”
Prior to TNT’s final game of the season, Khobuntin averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds across five games in the Finals.
And to downplay that his record game was not just a token appearance and how fit he still was, Khobuntin went down swinging by finishing with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.
“I play with God and my family so no [fatigue,]” said the 10-year veteran. “If I get tired, I’ll [just] rest and do it again tomorrow.”
In the PH Cup, Khobuntin played 25 games with averages of 7.12 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Unfortunately, his numbers weren’t enough to accomplish what TNT did for the past two conferences.
Still, the savvy forward has no problems running it back next season, no matter if it takes him the same amount of games—even more.
“We’ll try to do it again,” he said of the failed Grand Slam bid. “That’s our mentality, it’s done, we’ll move on, we’ll rest and then do it again.”
