TNT put together its first string of wins in the PBA Philippine Cup on the same day defending champion Meralco put to a halt a three-game skid.
Buoyed by their 89-84 upset of San Miguel, the Tropang 5G rolled to their second straight victory by routing Terrafirma Dyip, 110-74, and improved to a 2-3 record overall.
The Bolts on the other hand, escaped from the jaws of defeat and nailed a 105-104 win against hard-luck Northport Batang Pier.
READ: Quinto winner caps Meralco comeback as Northport wilts from the line
The reigning champion evened its record at 3-3, while dealing the Batang Pier a fourth consecutive loss (1-4) as they continued to miss the services of main man Arvin Tolentino.
Below are three takeaways in the contrasting outcome of the weekend’s doubleheader.
1.POOR FREE THROW SHOOTING DRUBS NORTHPORT
Two free throws by Jio Jalalon in the endgame of the loss against the Bolts summed up the team’s struggles all-game long from the 15-foot line.
The Batang Pier were a miserable 45.5 percent from the foul line after making just 15 of their total 33 shots. That’s a total of 18 missed free throws, which is now a conference high.
It’s the most foul shots missed by a team since Terrafirma went 19-of-38 in a 96-86 loss to Blackwater in the Commissioner’s Cup last Jan. 15, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Meralco actually, also didn’t do well either, with its free throw shooting by making just 19-of-29 for 65 percent. But judging how close the game was, a single free throw made could have really been the difference.
2.JOSHUA MUNZON, WILLIAM NAVARRO TAKING CHARGE FOR NORTHPORT
With Arvin Tolentino still grounded with a hurting hip flexor, the duo of Joshua Munzon and William Navarro had been the one taking care of the fort for the team. In the Batang Pier’s last four outings, Munzon averaged 21.7 points and Navarro 19.7, huge numbers which unfortunately didn’t produce a win for the skidding franchise.
Munzon dropped a career-high 36 points in the Meralco heartbreaker, going 4-of-9 from three-point range and 14-of-24 overall from the field. The output surpassed his previous career-high of 30 points made against Converge during the Commissioner’s Cup last December.
3.BONG QUINTO BUILDING CLUTCH REPUTATION FOR MERALCO
While Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge had long been the cornerstones of the Meralco francise, Quinto had his own share of heroic moments with the Bolts including the dramatic win against the Batang Pier.
Newsome admitted playing decoy in the team’s final play, with the former Letran standout designated to take the winning shot.
While Newsome and Chris Banchero finished with 24 and 23, respectively, Quinto had a quiet 17-point, nine-rebound performance which he spiked with a 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range and ended up shooting 54 percent from the field (6-of-11).
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