TERRENCE Jones and Roger Pogoy were far from top form on Sunday in TNT’s lopsided defeat against Alaska in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
They also were the most frustrated.
Jones was held to 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-3 from three-point land. The NBA veteran had six rebounds and three blocks but committed seven turnovers as the top-seeded KaTropa dropped a 108-72 loss to the underdog Aces.
Pogoy, who averaged 17 points during the eliminations, was limited to only two points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Frustration clearly had a lot to do with the struggles of Jones, who was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty one late in the third quarter for pushing Carl Bryan Cruz after a rebound scuffle.
“The players just played their butts off,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “Sa huli, whatever your game plan is, the players fight and scrap and try to make the plays, and the players did it.”
Cruz said he did his best to play defense against a legitimate NBA player in Jones.
“Siyempre, para sa akin, NBA player, kailangan ko talaga depensahan. Once in a lifetime lang. It’s an honor for me na mabantayan siya. Best import siya sa liga na ‘to. Gagawin ko lahat para sa team namin,” said Cruz.
Explaining how difficult it is to defend Jones, Cruz said: “Sobrang laki niya at dami niyang moves. Sa coaches namin, magandang game plan at team effort para sa aming lahat.”
Cruz also said he had no idea why Jones pushed him, leading to the flagrant foul.
“Hindi ko rin alam bakit niya ako tinulak. Nagulat na lang ako. Ang lakas nga eh … Parang nag-choke nga ako ng konti eh.”
Compton reiterated Jones can't be stopped by one Alaska player alone.
“We do not have a single player who can stop Terrence Jones," he said. "I love Diamon Simpson. He is an incredible defender, he is a great teammate, I love him. He is character individual. He is an Alaska guy. We can’t put Diamon on him for 40 minutes. We can’t stop him.”
“So it has to be all of us. The players did it. I’m proud of him,” said Compton.
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