Kelly Williams turned back the clock to help TNT repulse Magnolia, 83-76, to remain unbeaten in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Sunday evening at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The 39-year-old turned in his best performance since coming out of retirement earlier this year as he finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds, together with three blocks and two steals in 32 minutes and 17 seconds of play.
The 2008 Most Valuable Player shot a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, two of which he drilled in the fourth quarter to help keep the Hotshots at bay as the Tropang Giga went on to inch closer to a quarterfinal berth.
“We got him here to be our presence in the middle, to defend other teams’ post players, to be our stalwart in rebounding. I thought he delivered fantastically tonight,” lauded head coach Chot Reyes.
Jayson Castro too-scored for the Texters with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Mikey Williams made 14 points and five assists, while Roger Pogoy contributed 12 points and five rebounds.
Castro was the one who pushed TNT’s lead to a game-high 13 points, 69-56, with 7:33 remaining in the final period.
The Hotshots, though, just would not go down without a fight and knocked to within six with 1:19 to go. But Poy Erram struck the dagger with a stepback triple at the top to make it 81-72 with 1:05 left in the game.
“Our focus for this game became very simple. Just make sure that we outwork them, and they do not outwork us, that at least we’re able to match their intensity. Still some lapses, like I said, we’re a work in progress,” Reyes said.
Troy Rosario also made his presence felt in the win despite suffering an ankle injury in their last game as he had 11 points and eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, Calvin Abueva had 23 points to lead Magnolia, who suffered their second loss in the three games they’ve played thus far in Bacolor. The Hotshots fell to third in the standings with a 5-2 record.
Paul Lee had 13 points although he spent much of the second half on the sidelines as his head hit the back of teammate Rafi Reavis. Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang had 10 points apiece in the defeat.
The Scores:
TNT (83) — Castro 17, M. Williams 14, K. Williams 13, Pogoy 12, Rosario 11, Erram 9, Marcelo 4, Heruela 2, Reyes 1, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0, Alejandro 0.
Magnolia (76) — Abueva 23, Lee 13, Sangalang 10, Barroca 10, Jalalon 9, Corpuz 5, dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Ahanmisi 0, Melton 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 35-32, 59-52, 83-76.
