PBA: Texters dominate Batang Pier sans Tautuaa

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Hoping to inch closer to a twice-to-beat advantage, TNT snapped GlobalPort’s four-game winning streak and dealt the Batang Pier a 107-96 loss Friday in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jayson Castro poured 12 points in the second quarter, which turned the tide for the Tropang Texters and gave them a 53-44 halftime lead it would not surrender.

He finished with 25 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals to counter GlobalPort’s one-two punch of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.

Troy Rosario added 19 markers and seven boards as TNT dominated and even erected a 19-point lead, 65-46 in the third quarter, despite missing top rookie pick Mo Tautuaa to back spasms.

“We needed to win this game kasi di pa namin alam kung saan kami. Kailangan talaga yung panalong ito. Depending sa laro bukas, we’ll see where we will land,” said coach Jong Uichico, harping the importance of this all-important tiff.

Romeo paced GlobalPort with 24 points and four assists, while Pringle also had 24 markers, three rebounds, and three dimes in the losing effort.

Joseph Yeo also had 14 for the Batang Pier, who committed 23 turnovers that led to 27 points for TNT.

Despite the loss, GlobalPort will advance to the quarterfinal phase with a twice-to-beat advantage with a 7-4 record.

The Scores:

TNT 107 – Castro 25, Rosario 19, Aban 9, Carey 9, Fonacier 9, Seigle 9, Williams 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, R. Reyes 6, J. Reyes 5, Miranda 3, Rodriguez 0.
GLOBALPORT 96 – Pringle 24, Romeo 24, Yeo 14, Semerad 9, Jensen 8, Mamaril 6, Kramer 5, Maierhofer 4, Washington 2, Isip 0, Paniamogan 0, Pena 0, Uyloan 0, Sumang 0.

Quarters: 15-22, 53-44, 83-69, 107-96.