Simon helps Texters snap skid; Aces win

David Simon provided the stability in his second game with Tropang TNT, coming through with a superb allaround game as the defending champs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 108-96 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the MOA Arena.

Ranged against debuting Phoenix import Kevinn Pinkney, Simon strutted his stuff as veteran of the Euro leagues, putting in a near triple-double effort with 33 points, 22 rebounds and seven assists to get TNT on the winning track after successive defeats at the hands of Meralco, Globalport and Alaska Milk.

Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro combined for 10 three-pointers and 39 points between the two of them as the Texters improved to 2-3 in the mid-season tourney they ruled versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last season.

The Texters punished the Fuel Masters both inside the paint and outside, with the TNT gunners drilling 15 triples in all against Phoenix’s measly seven in this Petron Blaze Saturday Special.

“Everybody contributed. Everybody played well, and I didn’t have to coach much today,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.

“The guys are well aware it’s just a roundrobin elims with only the top eight advancing. With three straight losses, they know the importance of this game,” Uichico also said. “Hopefully, we keep on improving. We should build something from this game.”

Phoenix, meanwhile, was practically back to scratch after ditching Kenny Adeleke for Pinkney.

“When we found out Kevinn was available, we didn’t think twice in bringing him in,” said Phoenix coach Koy Banal of the former Boston Celtic, who’s actually among the team’s leading prospects ahead of Adeleke.

Calvin Abueva, Shane Edwards and Vic Manuel scored at least 20 points each, leading a lethal Alaska Milk game in a 128-102 manhandling of Rain or Shine later in the night.

Sonny Thoss, Chris Banchero and RJ Jazul contributed double-digit outputs as the Aces fashioned out the most lopsided game in the tourney, surpassing Star’s 19-point win over Blackwater (122-103) last Wednesday.

Going 2-0 with Edwards, the Aces rose to 2-1 while the E-Painters dropped to 1-3, with back-toback losses with import sub Antoine Wright.

The scores: First Game TROPANG TNT 108 – Simon 33, De Ocampo 20, Castro 19, Rosario 9, Fonacier 8, Reyes R. 5, Rosser 4, Williams 4, Aban 3, Tautuaa 3, Ababou 0, Carey 0.

PHOENIX 96 – Pinkney 26, Intal 16, Garcia 14, Baracael 9, Pennisi 8, Wilson 6, Brondial 5, Lanete 4, Urbiztondo 4, Fortuna 2, Monfort 2, Forrester 0.

Quarterscores: 26-21, 51-42, 75-67, 108-96 Second Game ALASKA 128 – Abueva 25, Edwards 23, Manuel 20, Jazul 15, Banchero 14, Thoss 10, Baguio 6, Exciminiano 6, Dela Rosa 4, Magat 3, Racal 2, Dela Cruz 0, Eman 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 102 – Tiu 21, Wright 21, Cruz 16, Ahanmisi 12, Norwood 10, Quinahan 8, Trollano 5, Belga 3, Chan 2, Ibanes 2, Nimes 2, Almazan 0, Ponferada 0.

Quarters: 29-25, 59-54, 95-78, 128-102