TNT climbed a 23-point hole against Phoenix to keep its playoff hopes alive in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
TNT needed two quarters before heating up to dump Phoenix, 108-101, to improve its quarterfinal chances in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, April 24.
Kim Aurin went off in the third period, unleashing three of the Tropang Giga’s six triples in a 42-point explosion in the frame that helped the squad wipe out a 23-point deficit.
Aurin finished with 12 points for TNT, which hiked its card to 5-5.
The Fuel Masters, who built a 42-62 spread at the half, tumbled to their sixth loss in nine games.
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Roger Pogoy topscored for the Tropang Giga with 23 points he laced with eight rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Calvin Oftana added 19 points and nine rebounds, while Kelly Williams turned back the hands of time and churned out 17 points and 13 boards.
After a huge third quarter allowed TNT to grab an 84-81 lead heading into the final frame, Roger Pogoy refused to let up for the Tropang Giga as he scored on an and-one play and another basket to stretch their advantage to 10, 100-90.
The Fuel Masters made a last-ditch effort to turn things around, trimming the gap to just six, 101-107, on Jayjay Alejandro’s easy deuce with 32.3 ticks remaining.
But it turned out to be Phoenix's last field goal.
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“Offensively, we did very little. We thought if we would make enough defensive stops, it would give us more opportunities to run,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
Jason Perkins battered TNT on all fronts with 26 points but did very little to stop the bleeding when it mattered most. He also had 10 rebounds.
Alejandro and Kenneth Tuffin scored 16 and 13, respectively.
The Scores:
TNT 108 – Pogoy 23, Oftana 19, Williams 17, Aurin 12, Khobuntin 11, Castro 7, B.Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Montalbo 4, Heruela 3, Ponferrada 2, Reyes 2, Galinato 0, M.Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Ebona 0.
PHOENIX 101 – Perkins 26, Alejandro 16, Tuffin 13, Rivero 11, Salado 10, Jasul 8, Muyang 4, Mocon 4, Garcia 3, Daves 3, Soyud 2, Lalata 1, Verano 0, Camacho 0.
Quarterscores: 22-29, 42-62, 84-81, 108-101