POGOY DROPS 30; TNT STAYS CLEAN
Roger Pogoy bucked an ankle injury to lead TNT Tropang Giga to a 110-91 win over Phoenix Super LPG to remain unbeaten in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup last night at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Arena powered by Smart 5G in Pampanga.
Known for his defense than deadeye shooting, Pogoy dropped 30 points for the Tropang Giga, who raced to their fourth straight win in this special conference that is being held inside a bubble to lessen the risk of contracting coronavirus.
Also turning in impressive numbers were Paul Erram, Simon Enciso and Ray Parks.
Erram was a pillar of strength underneath with 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks while Enciso chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Tropang Giga, who claimed the solo lead over fellow unbeaten teams like Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Rain or Shine, who are tied at the second spot with 3-0.
TNT coach Bong Ravena said Pogoy was supposed to sit out due to a swollen right ankle that he sustained during their game against San Miguel Beer last Friday.
But instead of allowing himself to be reduced into a mere bench player, Cebu’s pride Pogoy played hard and registered his first 30-plus performance after firing a career-high 45 points in their first game against Alaska last week.
“During the first half, we were really having a hard time because they started so well,” Ravena said, whose wards rallied from a double-digit deficit en route to the victory.
“This kid, Pogoy, we call him as ‘Wolverine’ because of his pain tolerance. He was not really supposed to play, but this kid wanted to see action knowing how important every game is.”
After an intense first quarter, 24-all, the Fuel Masters stepped on the gas and dropped an 11-0 blast to erect a 14-0 edge, 40-26.
Gunner Matthew Wright closed the half with a field goal for a 54-45 count. But Pogoy had other plans.
The former Far Eastern University stalwart delivered 10 points in the third period while Jayson Castro added six markers to spark a rousing third-quarter rally, 75-68.
Wright tried to fight back, knocking down a trey in the corner in the final 5:12 mark to slash the deficit to within 10, 83-93, but Troy Rosario and Pogoy put on the finishing touches with a huge 20-point led, 107-87, entering the final stretch.
“Maybe we’re already tired of losing in the Philippine Cup so we proved tonight that we can win,” said Pogoy, one of the hottest players in the bubble right now.
“We have to give credit to Phoenix for playing well. They’re not pushovers.
It’s all about defense. Their defense really pushed us hard.”
This kid, Pogoy, we call him as Wolverine because of his pain tolerance. He was not really supposed to play, but this kid wanted to see action knowing how important every game is.
Wright was the lone man fighting with 31 points and six rebounds for the Fuel Masters, who suffered their first loss in three matches.
Scores:
TNT (110) — Pogoy 30, Erram 18, Enciso 13, Parks 12, Rosario 11, Reyes 10, Castro 10, De Leon 3, Washington 3, Carey 0, Alejandro 0, Semerad 0, Montalbo 0, Vosotros 0, Flores 0.
Phoenix (91) — Wright 31, Napoles 10, Perkins 8, Jazul 7, Chua 7, Reyes 6, Marcelo 5, Garcia 5, Heruela 4, Gamboa 4, Intal 4, Rios 0.
Quarters: 24-24, 45-54, 75-68, 110-91.