TNT cut short Terrafirma’s unbeaten streak, 100-97, for its second win of the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Jayson Castro led the way with 23 points, including the pair of free throws with 6.6 seconds left to not only settle the final count but to give the Tropang Giga some room after the Dyip got to within a point twice inside the last 1:48.
“We knew that these teams would make it very difficult for us. We had to prepare long and hard for them and we expected a tough game, and that’s exactly what it was,” offered head coach Chot Reyes.
Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin finished with 19 points apiece, while Henry Galinato supplied a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in 11 points but almost cost the game when he missed both of his shots from the foul line with 44.8 seconds to go.
Fortunately for him and the crew, Terrafirma missed its potential go-ahead buckets, including the stepback jumper of Juami Tiongson with 9.7 seconds remaining that left the crew with no other choice but to foul Castro.
The Dyip had one last chance to tie but Javi Gomez de Liano’s attempt off a handoff went short. They still got the ball back with 1.1 seconds left, but Tiongson got checked by rookie guard Kim Aurin.
Stephen Holt led Terrafirma with 24 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in their first loss of the conference after starting 2-0.
The loss has enabled Blackwater to take the solo lead in the team standings. The Bossing went 3-0 after beating Converge last Wednesday.
Javi Gomez de Liano had 18 points while Isaac Go added 11 for the Dyip, which absorbed its 17th straight loss to the flagship MVP franchise.
The Scores:
TNT 100 – Castro 23, Khobuntin 19, Oftana 19, Galinato 17, Ganuelas-Rosser B. 11, Aurin 4, Montalbo 4, Heruela 3, Ebona 0, Varilla 0, Reyes 0, Ganuelas-Rosser M. 0, Ponferrada 0.
Terrafirma 97 – Holt 24, Tiongson 21, Gomez de Liano 18, Go 11, ALolino 9, Ramos 5, Sangalang 5, Carino 2, Camson 2, Olivario 0, Cahilig 0, Calvo 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 50-41, 73-69, 100-97
