Roger Pogoy had the best performance so far of his young career, powering TNT KaTropa past rivals Barangay Ginebra, 104-96, for their third straight win in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The third-year guard out of FEU unloaded a career-best 38 points built on 10 treys, becoming only the fourth local player in league history to shoot that many threes in a game. Pogoy also had five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block.
Pogoy was also the catalyst of the Texters’ pull away in the fourth quarter, where they turned a slim two-point lead to a wide 96-86 lead with 5:01 remaining in the game. It would grow to as many as 12 points with 2:12 on the clock.
“Mainit si Roger. Yung three-points niya really, really helped us,” lauded TNT head coach Bong Ravena of Pogoy, who eclipsed his career-high of 31 points which he made also this conference. “Tremendous game from Roger.”
With the win, TNT has improved to 5-1 to force a three-way tie with NorthPort Batang Pier and Blackwater Elite at the top of the team standings.
Terrence Jones also shone brightly for the KaTropa by notching a triple-double, producing 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists — most of his dimes had Pogoy as the recipient. Jones also racked up a game-high six blocks.
Jayson Castro had 17 points as well with five boards, five assists, three steals, and a block in the win. Don Trollano finished with 12 points spiked by a pair of three-pointers, as Troy Rosario chimed in 11 markers and seven caroms.
Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 29 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks in the loss that dropped them to 2-3.
LA Tenorio had 18 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Twin towers Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter both produced 11 markers and combined for nine boards, as Joe Devance supplied 10 points, six rebounds, and five dimes.
TNT will next face sister teams Meralco Bolts on Saturday, June 15, while Ginebra will look to end their two-game funk versus San Miguel Beermen on Sunday, June 16. Both games will still be at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
TNT 104 – Pogoy 38, Jones 17, Castro 17, Trollano 12, Rosario 11, Taha 5, D. Semerad 2, Heruela 2, A. Semerad 0, Carey 0, Reyes 0.
Ginebra 96 – Brownlee 29, Tenorio 18, Slaughter 11, Aguilar 11, Devance 10, Thompson 7, Ferrer 7, Mercado 3, Caguioa 0, Mariano 0.
Quarterscores: 22-22, 48-49, 69-77, 104-96.
