The TNT Katropa gave returning import Joshua Smith a fitting welcome to the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup by scoring a 28-point rout of the Columbian Dyip, 123-95, Friday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Katropa have improved to 5-1 to gain a share of the top spot of the standings with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5-1), and to move a win away from at least a quarterfinal spot. The Dyip, on the other hand, fell to 3-4.
Smith, who returned to TNT to replace Jeremy Tyler, finished with 11 points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. He didn’t have to play that long, as the Katropa already had the game in their hands as early as the first quarter.
TNT open the bout with a 14-2 run, and that alone made things hard for their counterparts. As a result, the Katropa ended the first half with a 32-point lead, 72-40, after Jericho Cruz’s half-court shot at the buzzer went in.
The Texters’ lead ballooned to as huge as 40, 117-77, after Terrence Romeo’s three-pointer with six minutes remaining in the final chapter.
“We knew going to this game that Columbian Dyip is definitely a better team right now… We made sure from the top that we will be able to match whatever they throw at us,” said Katropa head coach Nash Racela.
Troy Rosario spearheaded the welcoming committee with 21 points in 19 minutes. Romeo provided 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Cruz fired 17 markers on top of seven dimes and six caroms.
The recently-reactivated Kelly Williams and Don Trollano had 11 points each.
Import John Fields III led Columbian with 34 points and 20 rebounds in the loss. Ronald Tubid played second fiddle by providing 13 points, while Eric Camson chipped in 11 points on 14 shots along with seven caroms.
TNT will next face the NLEX Road Warriors this Sunday, June 3, 4:30 PM, still at the MoA Arena. Columbian, meanwhile, will look to bounce back versus the San Miguel Beermen on June 6, Wednesday, 7:00 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
TNT 123 – Rosario 21, Romeo 19, Cruz 17, Trollano 11, Williams 11, Smith 11, Carey 9, Garcia 7, Semerad 7, Pogoy 6, Golla 2, Reyes 1, Castro 1, Nuyles 0, Paredes 0, Saitanan 0.
Columbian 95 – Fields 34, Tubid 13, Camson 11, Lastimosa 9, Gabriel 6, Khobuntin 6, McCarthy 5, Cabrera 3, Ababou 3, Celda 2, Sara 2, King 1, Corpuz 0, Cahilig 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 36-17, 72-40, 98-65, 123-95.
