TNT Katropa import Glen Rice, Jr. made light of Jayson Castro’s airballed three-pointer — which he put back in — in the dying seconds of their do-or-die quarterfinal match with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Friday night.
“Yeah, definitely a pass” quipped the 26-year-old, whose put-back off the said misfire proved to be the Katropa’s saving grace, helping them eliminate the wily Elasto Painters, 116-114, at a packed SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“It was a good pass, I guess,” quipped a beaming Rice, Jr., who powered the Katropa with yet another all-around outing — a game-high 34 points on 50 percent shooting alongside 16 rebounds and nine assists.
The second-generation cager and the flagship MVP franchise have plenty of reasons to be elated after the win, for it propelled them to the 2017 Governor’s Cup semifinals, their third straight semis appearance this season.
But come the next few days, the Katropa will be back on the grind for another daunting challenge is looming on the horizon, as defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are waiting for them in the next round.
“We haven’t had a time to do another scouting report on them yet,” said Rice, Jr.
“So the only thing I can really say is no matter who we play, we’ll play the right way and we’ll play with a lot of effort and energy, and we’ll be successful.”
