Roger Pogoy erupted for a career-high 45 points to lead TNT past Alaska, 100-95, in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup resumption Sunday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center, Pampanga.
The fourth-year guard out of Far Eastern University produced 21 markers in the first half as he helped the Tropang GIGA overcome a sluggish start, which saw them go down by 16 points, 12-28, in the opening period.
Pogoy punched his 45th point through a side step triple with 2:52 left to play to tie the game at 92-all, before his veteran teammates Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro did their part to apply the finishing touches.
The Cebuano cager nailed 10 three-pointers, equalling the TNT franchise record which he also set in his previous career-high of 38 points versus Barangay Ginebra in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
“Well, ine-expect namin from RR offensively, kailangan may numbers siya lagi. Kailangan ma-sustain niya yung numbers na yun every given night. Ma-swerte kami,” said TNT head coach Bong Ravena.
The veteran mentor insisted that the Tropang GIGA were just lucky not just with the output it got from Pogoy, but with how they managed to eke out the victory against the defense-oriented Aces.
Alaska gave TNT a major scare down the stretch when VIc Manuel and Abu Tratter joined hands to lift their team behind by just a point, 95-96, with 58.1 seconds remaining in the game.
It had a chance to steal the Tropang GIGA’s thunder but Simon Enciso stole an inbound pass, which eventually led to a Castro lay-up off a strong drive to widen their lead, 98-95, with 27.9 seconds on the clock.
Reyes, who earlier gave TNT the lead after Pogoy’s game-tying trey, forced Jvee Casio to commit a turnover moments later. Alaska could only foul Castro to freeze the clock, and the latter iced the game with his freebies.
“Masuwerte lang kami nanalo kami sa game na to. We had players na nasaktan, na-injure, thrown out, so sa amin suwerte lang sa amin yung game na ‘to na nanalo kami,” Ravena said.
Pogoy himself got hurt with 2:37 left in the fourth after colliding with Alaska counterpart Mike DiGregorio, causing a cut above his left eye. It happened after rookie Kib Montalbo apparently hurt his ankle at the 3:18-mark.
Center Poy Erram, meanwhile, had himself a totally forgettable debut for TNT after being thrown out late in the third for incurring a technical foul for second motion. He was assessed a flagrant foul penalty one in the first quarter.
Tratter led Alaska with 17 points. DiGregorio and Robbie Herndon supplied 16 markers apiece, while Manuel added 15.
TNT looks to sustain its momentum versus Terrafirma Dyip on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:45 p.m., while Alaska plans to redeem itself when it goes up against Meralco on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 4:00 p.m.
The Scores:
TNT (100) – Pogoy 45, Castro 28, Rosario 9, Erram 4, De Leon 4, Enciso 2, Harvey 2, Reyes 2, Montalbo 0, Vosotros 0.
Alaska (95) – Tratter 17, DiGregorio 16, Herndon 16, Manuel 15, Racal 8, Marcelino 5, Brondial 5, Ebona 4, Teng 3, Galliguez 2, Ayaay 2, Casio 2, Andrada 0.
Quarterscores: 15-30, 48-48, 71-72, 100-95
