TNT Katropa had to hurdle a slow start to come out with a 109-101 victory over the Globalport Batang Pier in a high-scoring Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The victory propels the Katropa to a 1-0 series lead over the Batang Pier, and will have a chance to close it out on Game 2 set on Monday, February 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jayson Castro led TNT’s attack with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor to go along with four rebounds. Mo Tautuaa supplied 17 markers and nine boards. Larry Fonacier also scored 17 by going 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
“Well the objective tonight was to limit the production of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.
Romeo paced Globalport and led all scorers with 28 markers, five rebounds, and eight assists, while backcourt partner Pringle had 19 points. However, the two were a combined 18-of-44 from the field.
TNT, after being down by 12 early in the first, gained leverage come the succeeding quarters. With Fonacier and Castro leading the offense, TNT erected the game’s widest gap at 18, 86-68, after an 8-2 scoring run capped by a Tautuaa lay-up with 42.4 seconds to go in the third canto.
“Today we did our part defensively. The only difference between tonight and the last time we faced Globalport is di na sila nakabalik agad. May mini runs sila and all we could is contain the run, and naging ok naman,” added Racela.
Globalport rose back and slashed the deficit down to nine, 96-87, as guard Terrence Romeo nailed a pull-up triple from the right wing with 5:55 left in the final period. However, baskets from Castro and Tautuaa sent TNT back up, 104-89, with 3:21 remaining to close the door for a Batang Pier comeback.
Troy Rosario had 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Matt Ganuelas-Rosser added 10.
The Katropa shot 54 percent from the floor by hitting 43 of their 80 shots. Their defense was also top-notch, forcing Globalport to commit 16 turnovers that led to 19 turnover points. However, they barely won the rebounding battle, 46-44, and gave up a few more second chance points, 13-10.
Mick Pennisi and JR Quiñahan had 14 and 13, respectively.
“Focus namin into the next game is to adjust on limiting Terrence and Stanley’s production. Hanap kami paraan para mabawasan touches nila next game,” Racela voiced regarding Globalport’s leaders.
The Scores:
TNT (109) – Castro 20, Tautuaa 17, Fonacier 17, Rosario 11, Rosser 10, Rosales 8, Pogoy 6, Reyes 6, Williams 6, de Ocampo 4, Carey 2, Seigle 2, Sumalinog 0, Tamsi 0.
Globalport (101) – Romeo 28, Pringle 19, Pennisi 14, Cortez 8, Canaleta 7, Pessumal 5, Maierhofer 3, Mamaril 2, Semerad 2, Andrada 0, Urbiztondo 0, Paredes 0.
Quarterscores: 34-24, 61-56, 86-71, 109-101.
