Settling down, TNT KaTropa survived the challenge from the NLEX Road Warriors, 85-80, Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Freebies from Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy inside the final 14.4 saved TNT from a meltdown. TNT lost hold of a 14-point lead by allowing NLEX to come within two, 80-82, with 35 ticks left.
The Texters are now at 1-2, while dropping the Road Warriors to 0-3.
“Well both teams naman played well eh. Sa amin talagang wala kaming ginawang iba kundi ano lang, we’re just a team that’s just trying to get better every day,” said TNT head coach Bong Ravena.
Pogoy continued his stellar play, as he led TNT with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Don Trollano supplied 15 markers – spiked by three triples – along with seven boards as well.
The KaTropa were on course to coast to the victory. They led by 14 points, 75-61, after Ryan Reyes made a wing three-pointer with 9:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But the Road Warriors had other things in mind. They battled back strongly and made a 16-4 rally – ended by Poy Erram’s lay-up off a Kevin Alas lob 0150 to close within two, 77-79, with 2:52 to go.
Alas tried to tie the game, but he missed, allowing TNT to regain control. Pogoy then nailed a cold-blooded trey from the top of the key to widen his side’s lead, 82-77, with 43.7 seconds left.
Erram answered with a trey of his own to lift NLEX to within two once more; however, Alas fouled Jayson Castro on the other end, resulting in split freebies, 83-80, with 14.4 ticks left.
NLEX tried to tie the game, but Bong Galanza missed from the outside with less than three seconds left to play. Pogoy then iced the game by sinking both of his charities.
“We are improving,” said Ravena. “We’re making our shots now. Hopefully consistent kami sa mga ganoon. Defensively, tingin ko naman nagi-improve kami in spite of our line-up.”
Reyes and Brian Heruela supplied 11 markers apiece in the win. Yousef Taha chimed in 10 markers and seven boards.
Erram led the Road Warriors with 19 points and seven rebounds, and a game-high five blocks. Galanza had a career-high 19 points as well. Philip Paniamogan chipped in 10 markers.
NLEX had to play until the end despite losing head coach Yeng Guiao. The fiery coach was ejected with 4:22 remaining in the third quarter as he got slapped with a technical foul for using profanity.
Both teams will see action again this Sunday, January 27, still at the Big Dome. NLEX will kick things off at 4:30 PM versus the Columbian Dyip, while TNT will play the San Miguel Beermen at 7PM.
The Scores:
TNT 85 – Pogoy 20, Trollano 15, Reyes 11, Heruela 11, Taha 10, Castro 9, Williams 4, Golla 3, Carey 2, Semerad 0.
NLEX 80 – Erram 19, Galanza 19, Paniamogan 10, Fonacier 8, Porter 6, Ighalo 6, Alas 3, Tiongson 3, Quinahan 3, Magat 3, Soyud 0, Baguio 0, Tallo 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 43-41, 69-57, 85-80.
