ANTIPOLO – RR Pogoy had 35 points, Poy Erram had a career-high 31, and TNT extended its winning streak to four with a 111-103 victory over Rain or Shine on Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center.
Calvin Oftana added 28 points as the Tropang 5G equalled the Elasto Painters’ win-loss mark at 4-3 (win-loss) after a 0-3 start and got their bid for only the pro league's sixth season grand slam back in earnest.
TNT also won its first game since learning that Rey Nambatac will be out from four to six weeks with a pulled groin. The Tropang 5G also overcame a 14-point deficit in the second quarter to stretch their hot streak.
Even with the explosive offense, TNT coach Chot Reyes thought their defense led them to another win even though Rain or Shine was able to breach the century mark in points.
The Tropang 5G limited Rain or Shine’s top two scorers Adrian Nocum and Santi Santillan to only 15 points combined, outscoring the entire team, 24-14, in the second quarter.
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“We really set ourselves the goal of limiting them below 100,” said Reyes. “This is the top scoring team in the league. We wanted to limit them below a hundred points. And we had it except for those two turnovers in the end when the game was beyond reach already. We could have held them below a hundred.
“In the end, it was our defense limiting them to only 14 points in the second quarter. I thought that was the turning point,” said Reyes.
TNT zoomed past Rain or Shine with a 10-0 run with the triumvirate of Pogoy, Erram, and Oftana chipping in to bring the Tropang 5G lead to 99-88 with four minutes left in the match.
Things turned from bad to worse in that stretch for ROS as Nocum tweaked his ankle.
Andrei Caracut had 20 points on 3-of-4 shooting from threes in his best offensive night this conference. Gian Mamuyac added 18 points for the Elasto Painters.
The scores:
TNT 111 – Pogoy 35, Erram 31, Oftana 28, Enciso 8, Khobuntin 5, Aurin 3, Razon 1, Williams 0, Heruela 0, Varilla 0.
Rain or Shine 103 – Caracut 20, Mamuyac 18, Clarito 17, Datu 10, Nocum 8, Norwood 7, Santillan 7, Lemetti 6, Asistio 5, Malonzo 5, Belga 0.
Quarters: 20-31; 44-45; 77-74; 111-103.
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