Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Troy Rosario, TNT can’t miss, keep Meralco struggling


After a sluggish start in the 2018 Philippine Cup, the TNT Katropa have seemingly found their groove, as they cruised to their second straight win at the expense of the Meralco Bolts, 99-81, Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

This is now TNT’s first win streak in the tourney as they improve to 3-2. The Bolts, on the other hand, suffered their third straight loss and are now 1-3.

“We knew that Meralco was undermanned. We knew that they lacked the people going to this game today so ang mentality namin was to take advantage of that, ‘yung pagkukulang ng Meralco,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.

“Today from start to end, we were able to do that. The intensity level was consistent. Siguro medyo bumababa ng kaunti but kaunting-kaunti lang. That’s our goal as a team, maging consistent on both ends,” he added.

Troy Rosario, who turned 26 years old yesterday, led TNT with 22 points — 12 coming from the opening frame where he powered a 16-3 run — on 8-of-13 shooting from the field on top of a game high 10 rebounds.

“It won’t be his birthday every day. It’s nice that he shot well while celebrating his birthday, but we also need him to shoot well during other days,” said Racela of Rosario. “That’s how you become consistent.”

Shades of a comeback flashed in the game’s third chapter, when the Orangemen chopped down a 16-point lead to just five, 52-47, thanks to back-to-back triples by KG CaƱaleta and Jared Dillinger with 8:32 remaining.

#ReadMore  Northport almost lost Paolo Taha to Meralco

But it proved to be the last time that Meralco would knock that close. After Roger Pogoy’s triple went in to help TNT regain the double-digit lead, 57-47, with 6:07 in the third, the Katropa never looked back and ran roughshod.

The Texters even led by as much as 22 points, 92-70, after RR Garcia’s three-pointer with 4:27 left to play.

Garcia supplied 18 points and eight assists for the Katropa, who shot a conference-high 18 treys in the win. Pogoy made 15 points despite shooting 6-of-16, while Jayson Castro had 12 points, four boards, and three dimes.

Ryan Reyes and Anthony Semerad each chipped in 10 markers.

The Bolts, who shot just 39 percent in the loss, were led by Baser Amer’s 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Dillinger scored 14 and grabbed five caroms, while CaƱalata had 11 markers, five boards, and three assists.

TNT will try to sustain their momentum versus the Magnolia Hotshots on January 27, Saturday at 6:45 PM, while Meralco will aim to end their skid versus the Kia Picanto on Wednesday, January 24, at 4:30 PM. Both games are at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

TNT 99 ā€” Rosario 22, Garcia 18, Pogoy 15, Castro 12, Reyes 10, Semerad 10, Carey 3, Hernandez 3, Tautuaa 2, Torres 2, Williams 2, Golla 0, Onwubere 0.

Meralco 81 ā€” Amer 20, Dillinger 14, Canaleta 11, Tolomia 8, Newsome 6, Lanete 5, Bono 4, Hugnatan 4, Ballesteros 3, Faundo 3, Baracael 2, , Sedurifa 1, Caram 0, Salva 0.

#ReadMore  PBA: Lassiter sets the tone as San Miguel gets back at TNT, forces Game 7

Quarterscores: 27-18, 46-36, 73-62, 99-81.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

BACOLOD -Team Japeth and Team Mark ended up in a stalemate, 140-140, in a thrilling conclusion to the PBA All-Star Bacolod 2024 witnessed by...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – it’s going to be an extra special PBA All-Star stint for Roger Pogoy. The TNT star couldn’t be any more blessed to...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – San Miguel got lucky in the end against TNT, 91-89, in a clash of PBA Philippine Cup contenders, Sunday night at the...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Roger Pogoy leads the cast of replacements called up for the much-awaited PBA All-Star Bacolod 2024 next weekend. The TNT gunner will...

Basketball

Juami Tiongson nailed the game-winner to help Terrafirma complete a massive comeback against Blackwater, 92-91, and get back on track in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Meralco turned what was thought to be a dogfight to a lopsided mauling as it whipped Ginebra, 91-73, to arrest its two-game slide in...

Basketball

Phoenix sent Terrafirma skidding all of a sudden, 94-78, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig....

Basketball

NLEX dealt Blackwater its first loss, 103-97, to further its own streak in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the Philsports Arena...

Advertisement