TNT is on a roll and defending champion Meralco finally got out of its long losing spell.
That’s how things stood at the end of the PBA Philippine Cup doubleheader Wednesday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Drawing huge numbers from the hot trio of Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram, and Calvin Oftana, the Tropang 5G rallied back for a 111-103 win against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
READ: Pogoy, Erram, Oftana torment Rain or Shine in late TNT breakaway
TNT has now stretched its win run at four straight for a 4-3 slate in a tie with its victim.
The Bolts on the other hand, got back into the groove with a 103-85 rout of Blackwater, to end a two-game skid and raised their record at 4-5 despite missing the services of suspended forward Cliff Hodge.
The Bossing lost for the third straight time and fell at 1-5.
Below are three takeaways in the final elimination round games at the Antipolo venue.
1.BEAU BELGA’S WELL-BEING IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE
The health issue of the veteran Rain or Shine big man is quite alarming as he just fell on his own late in the second quarter of the Elasto Painters’ game against the Tropang 5G owing to dizziness.
He’s been diagnosed with vertigo before the start of the conference that made him miss the early games of the team. And when he was finally given the go-signal to play, the 38-year-old center had to wear goggles due to astigmatism.
Following the incident during the TNT game, its obvious Belga still needs further medical attention and shouldn’t be allowed to get back on the court until he’s fully fit to play again. As they say, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’
2.POY ERRAM SHOWS REAL VALUE WHEN FOCUSED
The TNT center registered a career-high 31 points in the team’s huge come-from-behind win against Rain or Shine. His previous best was 27 points which he did twice during the last Governors’ Cup semis against Rain or Shine and the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble in Clark.
He added six rebounds and two steals, while shooting an efficient 10-of-12 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the foul line. And this came from a player who somehow was a bit of a distraction during the team’s run to the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
When his mind is in the right place, the 6-foot-8 Erram can really make a difference and be a significant player for the Tropang 5G’s bid for greatness. That’s the way to go, Poy.
3. ROGER THAT!
The Cebuano gunner is on a hot streak for the Tropang 5G. He averaged 34.5 points in the last two outings of the team including 35 in the win over Rain or Shine. In those two games, he's shot 7-of-12 from three-point range and 25-of-39 from the field as he’s poised to become the next player to reach the 5,000-point plateu.
Incidentally, he and Erram combined to account for more than half of TNT’s total output of 111. They became the first local teammates to finish with 30-plus points each in a games since Justin Arana (32) and Alec Stockton (31) did it for Converge in a 113-107 loss to Phoenix in the 2024 Governors’ Cup
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