The TNT KaTropa are off to a roaring start in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup following their 135-107 decimation of the Blackwater Elite, Wednesday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
KJ McDaniels was nothing short of impressive, powering TNT KaTropa’s 135-107 decimation of the Blackwater Elite for a rousing start to their 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup campaign, Wednesday evening at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The former NBA cager put up monster numbers, with 41 points on a 66-percent shooting clip. He also had 22 rebounds, seven assists, a game-high five blocks, and two steals in over 43 minutes of play in his first-ever PBA game.
Thirteen of his points came in the opening frame, where TNT pulled away from a seven-point lead to a 34-19 edge. That then started the one-sided affair that saw them lead by as many as 32 points in the final minutes.
“That’s what we expect from him,” said coach Bong Ravena of the 6-foot-5 cager out of Clemson University.
The locals also did their part in the victory. Gunslinger Roger Pogoy unloaded 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting on top of four rebounds and four assists. Meanwhile, Troy Rosario provided 18 points spiked by three three-pointers.
Jayson Castro fell just a dime short of a rare triple-double with 17 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. Don Trollano finished with 17 markers in the win that saw TNT shoot an impressive 60.9-percent from the field.
Still, Ravena is far from satisfied, especially with TNT’s defense for allowing Blackwater to score 106. “We’re happy with the win but defensively, we cannot afford to give our opponent one hundred six points,” he said.
Ray Parks, Jr. led Blackwater with a PBA career-high 39 points on 29 shots in the disappointing defeat.
The match featured two teams that saw action in the East Asia Super League’s The Terrific 12 tilt last week.
TNT will look to go up 2-0 versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-1) on Saturday, September 28, still at the Big Dome. Meanwhile, Blackwater will next face NLEX Road Warriors (1-0) on Sunday, September 29, in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The Scores:
TNT 135 – McDaniels 41, Pogoy 22, Rosario 18, Castro 17, Trollano 17, Vosotros 7, De Leon 5, Magat 4, D. Semerad 4, Carey 0, Washington 0, Casiño 0.
Blackwater 107 – Parks 39, Maliksi 18, Sumang 14, Belo 12, Digregorio 11, Jose 8, Blakely 4, Alolino 2, Dario 2, Cortez 0, Sena 0, Desiderio 0, Al-Hussaini 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 34-19, 63-46, 97-80, 135-107.
