TNT wins first game against NLEX since RDO trade
Talk-N-Text (TNT) KaTropa has outgunned NLEX Road Warriors with 112-107 win despite veteran forward, Ranidel De Ocampo trade, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Wednesday.
Jayson Castro guarded by Juami Tiongson. Photo by PBA Images.
It was the first game of KaTropa since De Ocampo ended up at TNT’s sister team, Meralco, last Monday, after a nine-year stint with the team.
TNT went through a win-loss-win-loss pattern before scoring a first back-to-back win in the play-offs.
KaTropa, however, did not have a hard time adjusting after bouncing back against the Meralco Bolts and losing against GlobalPort and Batang Pier.
Import Glen Rice Jr. led the way for KaTropa scoring 25 points, 25 rebounds and 10 assists.
Rice Jr. secures his team as the TNT got back on the winning track and advanced to a 6-3 win-loss record and moved closer to a top-four finish.
Entering the last quarter, KaTropa held an 83-77 lead but they couldn’t step away as Larry Fonacier dropped eight out of his 10 points to lead the Road Warriors outbreak.
Player of the game Troy Rosario, titled as De Ocampo’s successor, contributed 17 points on 6-of-14 field-goal shooting to go with 12 rebounds to offset NLEX Warriors as Kelly Williams also stood out having 19 points and eight rebounds.
NLEX’s six-footer Kevin Alas was able to tie the game at 101-all.
Still, KaTropa recorded six unanswered points covered by Williams’ steal and layup for a 107-101 lead with under 2 minutes left in the game.
Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy also scored in the game after representing the Philippines and rendering service to Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup.
Raining threes of Castro and free throws by Williams headed the victory for KaTropa.
On the other hand, Road Warrior Aaron Fuller fired 28 points, 18 rebounds, and three assists to lead NLEX in a 7-3 record and was able to claim a top-four spot.
NLEX has a chance to bounce back on September 24 against Star Hotshots at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
BOX SCORES:
TNT 112 – Rice Jr. 25, Williams 19, Rosario 17, Castro 13, Tautuaa 12, Semerad 10, Reyes 8, Pogoy 6, Carey 2, Nuyles 0.
NLEX 107 – Fuller 28, Mallari 19, Fonacier 10, Alas 9, Baguio 7, Lastimosa 7, Al-Hussaini 6, Tiongson 5, Soyud 5, Quinahan 5, Rios 2, Ighalo 2, Taulava 2, J. Villanueva 0.
QUARTER SCORES:
25-20, 50-46, 83- 77, 112-107
