Playing in a virtually non-bearing game, the TNT KaTropa showed their playoff form in a 115-105 win over the Star Hotshots to cap off the Sunday doubleheader at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
TNT solidified their hold on the top spot of the standings with a 9-1 record, and they also notched a third consecutive win. On the other hand, Star, who will not advance to the quarters for the first time in five years, came up short of pulling off an upset and fell to a 2-8 slate.
“They took it upon themselves. Everybody’s playing well,” said coach Jong Uichico regarding his team going to the last stretch of the single-round elimination phase.
Star held a seven-point lead with nine minutes left in the third frame, before KaTropa unleashed a 12-5 quick blast to tie things up at 71. A mixed effort, particularly by the locals, lifted TNT to a whopping 39-point third period that helped them establish a lead heading into the fourth.
Baskets by RR Garcia and Rafi Reavis in the opening minutes of the final quarter sliced the lead to two, 92-90. Unfortunately for them, the remainder of the quarter belonged to TNT.
Larry Fonacier ignited the game-deciding run, as KaTropa found themselves leading by 13 with five minutes left in regulation. They hung onto the lead en route to the win, with the Hotshots failing to put up a major run down the stretch.
Fonacier had 21 points off the bench to lead TNT in scoring, along with seven boards and three makes from downtown.
“Facing Star, grandslam team yan, ‘di pwede mag-relax kaya dapat A-game pa rin kami,” declared Fonacier in his post-game interview. He also mentioned the team’s hunger to add another title to an already decorated franchise.
“We just remember our past three conferences wherein we underachieved so gutom na gutom na yung team namin.”
Aside from the former national team member, five more TNT players figured in double-digit scoring including Jayson Castro’s 21 and Mo Tautuaa’s 16.
Joel Wright had 27 for Star, in addition to 17 rebounds and three blocks, in the losing effort. PJ Simon added 20 for the Hotshots.
TNT KaTropa ate up the rebounding battle, 61-48, that led to more second chance points on their end, 19-11.
TNT round up their 11-game elimination phase with a joust against Ginebra (7-2) in a match that could determine the first seed at Biñan, Laguna, on the 18th. Star, meanwhile, look to spoil the still-battling Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a crucial Friday night game at MOA.
The Scores:
TNT (115) – Fonacier 21, Castro 21, Tautuaa 16, Ammons 14, Rosario 10, Madanly 10, Williams 9, Rosales 7, Reyes 5, De Ocampo 2, Carey 0, Rosser 0.
Star (105) – Wright 27, Simon 20, Pingris 17, Barroca 10, Maliksi 9, Garcia 8, Pascual 6, Reavis 4, Mallari 4, Brondial 0, Melton 0.
Quarterscores: 27-27, 50-55, 89-83, 115-105,
