Texters red-hot shooting scuttles Dyip

Asiad-bound TNT KaTropa dished out an imposing game coming off the All-Star break, scoring almost at will in pummeling a hapless Columbian Dyip side, 123-95, to gain a piece of the lead with Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the MOA Arena last night.

The Texters practically found no need to use comebacking import Josh Smith much, relying on the locals’ torrid shooting in their complete domination of the Columbian squad to tie the Elasto Painters at 5-1.

Columbian Dyip dropped to 3-4.

Arinze Onuaku came through with 24 points and 23 rebounds in a solid double-double game complemented well by Chris Newsome, Jared Dillinger and Anjo Caram as Meralco topped Barangay Ginebra, 93-82, for a fourth win against two losses in the nightcap.

With the superb effort of their starting unit, the Bolts took control right in the opening quarter and sustained a steady game throughout, bucking Justin Brownlee’s triple-double outing (20 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists) in another PBA comeback with the Kings.

Meanwhile, ROS, Alaska Milk (4-1), Magnolia (3-1) and GlobalPort (3-3) seek to firm up their spots in the Top Six as they figure in a rare Petron Blaze Saturday doubleheader tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces and the Batang Pier mix it up at 4:30 p.m. then the Elasto Painters and the Hotshots, with new import Curtis Kelly, slug it out at 6:45 p.m.

Kelly, taking over from Vernon Macklin who honored a commitment in the Chinese league, is 30 years old from Bronx, New York who played college ball with Connecticut and Kansas State.

Troy Rosario top scored with 21 points in 19 minutes of action, with Terrence Romeo, Jericho Cruz, Kelly Williams, Don Trollano and Smith chipping in at least 11 each as the Texters pulled off their most lopsided win in the tourney ahead of another game versus NLEX tomorrow.