TNT finally broke through in the PBA On Tour after getting past Phoenix Super LPG, 96-88, Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Back-to-back triples by Almond Vosotros and Carl Cruz to break an 83-all knot were enough for the Tropang Giga to regain control of the match and, eventually, post their first victory after starting the preseason with seven losses in a row.
Vosotros scored 10 of the team’s last 13 points on the way to finishing with 16 points, as he and the Triple Giga boys hardly slowed down a day after conquering Leg 3 of the ongoing PBA 3×3 Season 3 First Conference.
“We would like to thank the management and the 3×3 coaching staff for helping us out, They reinforced us,” said lead deputy Sandy Arespacocahaga. “Kita niyo naman, laking bagay ng 3×3 players namin to help with our regular players.”
Glenn Khobuntin top-scored for TNT with 21 points on 21 shots, together with seven rebounds before exiting the game with 4:43 remaining following an inadvertent hit to the face from counterpart Javee Mocon.
Cruz sank five triples for 15 points, alongside four rebounds and three assists. Montalbo supplied 13-5-5 for a Tropa side that finally welcomed Brian Heruela.
The veteran guard was out for six months after undergoing a knee procedure to remove a Baker’s cyst on his right knee. He was part of the first five and finished with three points on seven shots, eight rebounds, and four assists.
“It’s his first game back,” said Arespacochaga of Heruela, who logged 25 minutes. “May kaunting rust at the start, but after that, he was back to his old playing defense, playing tenacious defense for us, quarterbacking the team.”
TNT (1-7) will look to sustain its winning ways this Friday against a Ginebra side that’s coming off a loss to Converge. Match is at 7:30 in the same venue.
Phoenix, on the other hand, was led by the 18 points of Sean Manganti in the loss, already their fourth consecutive that dropped their card to 3-7.
RR Garcia and Tyler Tio had 15 points each. Chris Lalata made 13 points and 13 rebounds, while Mocon added 10 in the 16-point comeback that fell short.
The Fuel Masters will try to end their skid against the preseason’s top team in Magnolia on Sunday, 7:30 p.m., at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Scores:
TNT 96 – Khobuntin 21, Vosotros 16, Cruz 15, Montalbo 13, Flores 9, Exciminiano 6, Mendoza 5, De Leon 5, Heruela 3, Marcelo 2, Cuntapay 1, Jopia 0.
Phoenix Super LPG 88 – Manganti 18, Tio 15, Garcia 15, Lalata 13, Mocon 10, Celda 7, Camacho 6, Rangel 2, Alejandro 2, Atienza 0, Fetalvero 0.
Quarterscores: 25-24, 51-40, 81-71, 96-88,
