TNT STAYS MEAN SANS CASTRO
Games today (AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart 5G) 4 p.m. – NLEX vs Meralco 6:45 p.m. – Magnolia vs Phoenix
TNT missed a vital cog in seasoned playmaker Jayson Castro but still, the Tropang Giga ran like the same well-oiled machine and steamrolled opponent No. 5 in the PBA bubble.
With the usual suspects and the support crew gamely stepping up for the resting Castro (calf issues), the Tropang Giga clobbered skidding Blackwater, 109- 96, to stretch their streak and regain the Philippine Cup’s solo lead yesterday.
RR Pogoy turned in 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals to tow a balanced TNT scoring parade as they put the 13-point victory at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City in the bag without Castro.
Rayray Parks ( 18- 5), Troy Rosario ( 17- 123), Simon Enciso ( 16 spiked by four triples) and JP Erram ( 14- 5- 5) produced the numbers as well.
“That’s how it is in our team. If someone is injured, everybody is stepping up. We all stepped up and helped one another pull this through,” Pogoy said in Filipino.
TNT coach Bong Ravena said they decided to give Castro a rest after feeling tightness on his right calf during the warmup.
“We didn’t want to risk it. It happened to us before when we let Roger play and eventually aggravated his injury. We also wanted to give Jayson more recovery time especially with our three games scheduled next week,” said Ravena.
The Elite suffered another heavy loss barely two days after an embarrassing 82-120 blowout to Alaska.
Nash Racela’s charges fell to 2-3 overall on the same day they underwent a fresh round of swab test as part of the bubble protocols.
Later, rejuvenated Alaska outlasted erstwhile unbeaten Rain or Shine in a thrilling finish, 89-88, to rack up three straight after a 0-2 start.
Vic Manuel dropped six of his 18 in the stretch as the Aces continued their rise and moved half a game behind the 3-1 Elasto Painters. The scores: First Game TNT Tropang Giga 109 – Pogoy 20, Parks 18, Rosario 17, Enciso 16, Erram 14, Washington 6, Reyes 5, Semerad 5, Vosotros 4, De Leon 2, Flores 2, Alejandro 0.
Blackwater 96 – Trollano 23, Belo 16, Tolomia 12, Golla 9, Sumang 8, Daquioag 8, Gabriel 7, Canaleta 3, Salem 3, Dennison 3, Dario 2, Desiderio 2, Escoto 0. Quarterscores: 34-25, 61-49, 87-73, 109-96 Second Game Alaska 89 – Manuel 18, Teng 13, Tratter 10, Ebona 10, Herndon 9, Digregorio 7, Brondial 7, Ahanmisi 5, Casio 5, Galliguez 3, Ayaay 2, Marcelino 0.
Rain or Shine 88 – Onwubere 16, Mocon 14, Wong 12, Torres 10, Belga 10, Nambatac 7, Norwood 5, Yap 5, Doliguez 3, Rivero 2, Rosales 2, Ponferada 2, Tolentino 0.
Quarterscores: 22-18, 38-41, 61-63, 89-88