The TNT Katropa has punched the final ticket en route to the 2018 Philippine Cup playoffs as they eliminated fellow aspirants Phoenix Fuel Masters, 118-97, in the lone PBA bout Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
This is now the Katropa’s seventh straight playoff appearance since the 2016 Philippine Cup, and their 22nd in 24 conferences.
The Texters have arranged a quarterfinal showdown with the reigning three-time champions San Miguel Beermen on Tuesday, March 6. It will, however, be a daunting task for them as they are in a twice-to-beat disadvantage.
Moreover, it would be a rematch of sorts as TNT and SMB have faced each other twice in last season’s playoffs: one in the Philippine Cup semifinals and second in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where the Katropa lost in both occasions.
“Buhay pa,” exhaled TNT head coach Nash Racela. “I think at this point of the conference, all you want is a day to live. From our last elimination game, parang yun na yung buhay namin eh, from the NLEX game to today.
“Every game to us is a do or die game, so we live another day. That’s what we wanted before we ended the eliminations eh,” he added. “We’re number eight and we play the number 1 team, but ang importante is buhay pa.”
Troy Rosario led The Texters with 18 points. Jayson Castro flirted with a triple-double as he produced 17 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while Jericho Cruz had 17 markers as well along with three boards and two dimes.
The Katropa started to break away wide in the third canto, unfurling a Castro-headed 21-6 scoring spree — punctuated by Roger Pogoy’s trifecta — to convert a narrow 54-49 lead to as wide as 20, 75-55, with 8:21 on the clock.
Phoenix then failed to provide any answers afterwards, seemingly stunned with what had hit them. TNT, in their part, never looked back and even led by as much as 29, 112-83, after RR Garcia’s bucket with 4:55 left to play.
Pogoy chipped in 15 markers for TNT. Anthony Semerad fired 12 points, while Kelly Williams had 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Matthew Wright had 18 points on 18 shots along with six rebounds and six assists to lead Phoenix. Doug Kramer supplied 16 and 11 boards, while floor generals Gelo Alolino and RJ Jazul scored 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Both teams grabbed an identical 46 rebounds, but TNT shot the lights out of the Big Dome with a 53-percent shooting clip from the floor.
The Scores:
TNT 118 — Rosario 18, Castro 17, Cruz 17, Pogoy 15, Semerad 12, Williams 11, Tautuaa 10, Reyes 5, Garcia 4, Tamsi 4, Paredes 3, Nuyles 2, Carey 0, Golla 0, Torres 0.
Phoenix 97 — Wright 18, Kramer 16, Alolino 13, Jazul 11, Perkins 10, Chan 9, Mendoza 7, Eriobu 5, Intal 4, Guevarra 2, Wilson 2, Cortes 0, Dehesa 0, Gamboa 0.
Quarterscores: 27-25, 54-49, 94-76, 118-97.
