Cebuano RR Pogoy of TNT KaTropa up against Blackwater’s Dylan Ababou. (PBA MEDIA).
TNT gave coach Nash Racela a rousing debut, dealing surprise leader Blackwater its first loss with a 99-92 decision last night in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jayson Castro also made his triumphant comeback from a two-game hiatus, scattering 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists to help KaTropa notch their second straight win.
But before everything went smooth sailing, the KaTropa first had to crawl back from an early nine-point deficit, 30-21, against a motivated Elite side.
“We didn’t start the way we wanted to. We only adjusted when coach Nash started to get mad at the players, then they started doing the right things,” said assistant coach Josh Reyes.
That was when tides turned as TNT recouped its old form and pushed the lead to 13, 88-75, in the fourth, staving off numerous comeback attempts from Blackwater.
Mo Tautuaa also had 20 markers and four boards, while Ranidel de Ocampo fired 10 of his 15 points in the fourth, to go with eight rebounds and four assists.
Mac Belo topped Blackwater with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Nard Pinto and Kyle Pascual both wound up with 14 in the loss.
The Scores:
TNT 99 – Tautuaa 20, Castro 20, De Ocampo 15, Fonacier 11, Rosario 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Carey 5, Reyes 5, Williams 4, Pogoy 3, Hernandez 0, Rosales 0, Golla 0.
Blackwater 92 -Belo 21, K. Pascual 14, Pinto 14, Dela Cruz 12, Cervantes 10, Miranda 5, Ababou 4, Aguilar 4, Buenafe 4, Sena 4, Banal 0, R. Pascual 0, Forrester 0.
Quarters: 21-30, 50-46, 76-67, 99-92.