TNT, SMB TAKE FAST LANE TO SEMIS
Games tomorrow (Filoil EcoOil Centre) 3 p.m. – Meralco vs Ginebra 6 p.m. – NLEX vs Magnolia * Meralco, Magnolia lead best-of-three series, 1-0
In a pair of quarterfinal duels that essentially played out according to hierarchy, San Miguel Beer and TNT blew by their respective opponents and took the fast lane to the semifinals.
The top-seeded Beermen, unleashing its full might, overwhelmed eighth-ranked Blackwater, 123-93, to seal their quick entry to the PBA Philippine Cup Final Four last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen, owner of a league-best 9-2 mark in the elims, peppered the Bossing with five triples in a searing 32-13 opening salvo to set the tone for the runaway semisclincher and end Blackwater’s redemption tour coming off its dubious 29-game skid last season.
SMB took the cue from second-seeded defending champion Tropang Giga, who hours earlier made short work of No. 7 Converge, 116-95, to advance.
The Top 2 seeds now await their rivals in the best-of-seven semis with the Beermen set for a matchup with either Meralco or Barangay Ginebra and the Tropang Giga taking on either Magnolia or NLEX next.
The Bolts lead the Gin Kings in their race-totwo Last-8 showdown, 1-0, while the Hotshots hold a one-game upperhand versus the Road Warriors going to tomorrow’s Game 2.
A day after signing a three-year extension with the Tropang Giga, Mikey Williams rifled in 26 points highlighted by a 22-point outburst in the second quarter that propelled TNT to a 70-42 tear against the playoffs-debuting FiberXers.
Comebacking Troy Rosario (18), RR Pogoy (16), Jayson Castro (15) and Kelly Williams (10) turned in solid numbers to complement the Fil-Am spitfire and enable TNT to cash in on its win-once quarterfinal incentive.
TNT returned to the semis after squandering a similar twice-to-beat advantage against eventual champion Ginebra in the last Governors’ Cup quarters. The scores: First Game TNT 116 – M. Williams 26, Rosario 18, Pogoy 16, Castro 15, K.Williams 10, Montalbo 9, Erram 7, Tungcab 5, Banal 5, Khobuntin 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Marcelo 0, Alejandro 0, Cruz 0.
Converge 95 – Hill 18, Digregorio 14, Murrell 11, Tratter 10, Ahanmisi 10, Arana 8, Racal 5, Tolomia 5, Adamos 4, Stockton 3, Ambohot 3, Ilagan 2, Bulanadi 2, Browne 0. Quarterscores: 30-20, 70-42, 97-67, 116-95 Second Game San Miguel 123 – Lassiter 18, Perez 18, Cruz 17, Manuel 12, Tautuaa 12, Enciso 11, Fajardo 11, Herndon 9, Brondial 6, Pessumal 5, Zamar 4, Ross 0, Canete 0, Faundo 0.
Blackwater 93 – Ular 15, Amer 13, Ebona 12, Sena 11, Ayonayon 11, Suerte 8, Go 8, Casio 5, Publico 5, McCarthy 3, Dyke 2, Melton 0, Rosser 0 Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 32-12, 63-39, 94-63, 123-93