ANTIPOLO – TNT leaned on its star troika in stopping the surging Rain or Shine from its tracks, 111-103, for its fourth successive victory in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.
Roger Pogoy showed the way with 35 points, but the two-way specialist received massive contributions from Poy Erram and Calvin Oftana as the Tropang 5G are now trying to cope without the services of the injured Rey Nambatac.
The seasoned big man reset his career-high in points with 31 alongside six rebounds and two blocks. Meanwhile, the young winger rifled in 28 markers as they stepped up to bring themselves above .500 for the first time this conference.
Oftana and Pogoy were instrumental in the strong closeout, joining hands to spearhead a 10-0 run toward a 99-89 lead with 4:54 remaining in the game.
Erram then came in to help alongside Simon Enciso. The two of them pushed the lead to its highest at 109-96 with 1:41 left — a wall which the Elasto Painters struggled to take down as they saw their two-game win streak end.
(C) PBA Images
“Rain or Shine was really playing well in the first quarter,” recalled head coach Chot Reyes as they actually fell behind, 31-17, during the first quarter.
“They were not missing any shots, and we couldn’t make our baskets. In the end, it was just our defense that limited them in the fourth quarter, and I think that was the turning point,” added the champion bench tactician.
Defense was indeed a major key in beating their youth-laden counterparts, whom they limited to only a 10-of-30 clip from beyond the first arc.
That, after knocking down 16 three-pointers in their stunner of a victory against the league-leading Magnolia just last Sunday in Montalban, which gave the traditional contenders their first loss after a 6-0 start in the tourney.
(C) PBA Images
Budding star Adrian Nocum also saw himself shackled to just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting after producing 20 against the Hotshots.
Leading Rain or Shine was Andrei Caracut with 20 points. Gian Mamuyac had 18 points, while Jhonard Clarito and Keith Datu added 17 and 10 markers.
The team missed Caelan Tiongson due to a sprained ankle.
Still, they managed to threaten after losing a big lead by knocking within a point, 88-89, following Nocum’s bucket approaching the last seven minutes.
But it proved to be their last gasp. Pogoy sparked what would be a dagger 20-4 rally — capped by an Oftana trey — for the 104-92 lead with 2:48 to go.
TNT will look to extend its winning streak to five when it takes on NorthPort on May 30, Friday, 5:00 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
TNT 111 – Pogoy 35, Erram 31, Oftana 28, Enciso 8, Khobuntin 5, Aurin 3, Razon 1, Williams 0, Varilla 0, Heruela 0.
Rain or Shine 103 – Caracut 20, Mamuyac 18, Clarito 17, Datu 10, Nocum 8, Santillan 7, Norwood 7, Lemetti 6, Asistio 5, Malonzo 5, Belga 0.
Quarterscores: 20-31, 44-45, 77-74, 111-103.
