Needing to break the five-way logjam at third place, the TNT Katropa did not let up, torching the Alaska Aces in a 109-100 win, Friday evening at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The year-ending win ties the Katropa with the Blackwater Elite in the standings with a 4-2 slate. The Aces, on the other hand, drop to an even 3-3 record.
First-year TNT head coach Nash Racela, though delighted that they have gained leverage in the standings, is still looking at the day-to-day adjustment the team needs for the long haul.
“Well, we always look at the big picture. Ang big picture namin is day-to-day improvements,” he said. “If it puts us in the middle or top of the standings, okay na sa amin yun. The important thing is to trust the process.”
Last season’s runner-up to the Rookie of the Year plum Troy Rosario was just on point for the entire game, scoring 246 points on 6-of-9 shooting from downtown. As a team, TNT went 14-of-31 from three-point country.
“The goal today was to play consistent basketball for 48 minutes,” Racela shared. “Obviously we were struggling to do that but maybe the 40 minutes that we did was a good sign.”
Rosario’s hot-shooting began in the first half, knocking down four of his six three-point attempts for 16 points. Jason Castro then scored seven straight points to close out the half and give TNT a comfortable 16-point edge entering the break.
Behind Calvin Abueva and Kevin Racal, the Aces were able to cut into the Katropa’s lead. A buzzer-beating triple by Ping Exciminiano to end the third frame sliced to lead to just seven points, 70-77.
However, Rosario connived with deadeye shooter Larry Fonacier as the two combined for four triples in a 16-7 run to start the final frame. A basket by Mo Tautuaa and a triple by Rosario, his sixth of the game with 8:45 left, helped regain TNT’s 16-point cushion, 93-77.
Fonacier and Jayson Castro added 16 markers apiece for TNT.
Compounding Alaska’s problem to rally back was their free throw woes in the game. They were granted 35 freebies in the game but only knocked down 20.
“I think in the PBA, if you limit your opponent to a 100 points or less, you’ll be alright. Our offense was just a bonus tonight,” Racela said.
Abueva paced the Aces with 18 points and 10 rebounds but was just 3-for-8 from the stripe. Vic Manuel and Racal chipped in 16 and 14 points respectively.
The TNT Katropa will next face the NLEX Road Warriors (1-4) on Saturday, January 7 in Angeles City, Pampanga. The Alaska Aces will have an 18-day break before taking on the Star Hotshots (3-2) on Wednesday, January 11 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
TNT (109) – Rosario 26, Castro 16, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 10, Tautuaa 9, Rosser 9, Williams 8, Reyes 6, Rosales 6, Carey 3, Pogoy 0, Tamsi 0, Golla 0.
Alaska (100) – Abueva 18, Manuel 16, Racal 14, Banchero 12, Dela Cruz 8, Casio 7, Exciminiano 6, Mendoza 5, Cruz 3, Hontiveros 3, Pascual 2.
Quarterscores: 31-22, 54-38, 77-70, 109-100
