Import-less TNT overcomes Lastimosa, Blackwater
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TNT bucked the absence of two key players to overcome Blackwater, 108-102, at the start of the 2016 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing without import Ivan Johnson, who served a one-game suspension, and injured big man Troy Rosario, the Tropa looked on their way to a blowout win, leading by 14, 90-76, early in the fourth quarter before needing to withstand a late rally by Carlo Lastimosa and the Elite.
“Buti nakalusot ng walang import (Good thing we were able to get through without an import). Credit to the players that even without an import they fought hard,” said TNT head coach Jong Uichico.
While TNT missed the services of Johnson, who was suspended for a punching incident in a tune-up game last Jan 30 also against Blackwater, and Rosario, who hurt his left shoulder last December in the team’s final game in the previous conference, the squad welcomed back one of its star veterans in Ranidel de Ocampo.
De Ocampo played in his first game in over three months due to a back injury and he wasted no time in announcing his return — scoring the game’s first basket en route to a 20-point outing that went with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 28 minutes of action.
Jayson Castro led the Tropa with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting. He had 19 points in the first half and made four 3-pointers with his final triple giving TNT a 106-102 edge with 53 seconds left.
Lastimosa spearheaded the Elite’s fightback as he unleashed 14 of his career-high 39 points in the fourth quarter. He carried Blackwater’s offense with import MJ Rhett having an unimpressive PBA debut.
Rhett showed his athletic ability with a couple of dunks but did not enough to help the Elite come through. He pulled his team to within one, 103-102, on two free throws with 1:11 left before Castro answered with a clutch triple over Mike Cortez.
The 23-year-old Rhett scored 16 points on 17 shots to go along with seven rebounds and five steals in close to 46 minutes of play.
Blackwater took the early lead, 17-11, but the team was the same since losing starting center JP Erram six minutes into the game. Erram hit his back and head hard on the floor after flipping over as he blocked a layup by De Ocampo.
The former Ateneo player stayed at the venue but did not return as doctors observed his condition following the impact.
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