TNT KATROPA’S feeling out process with its new import was apparent in the first three periods before everything fell into place in the fourth quarter that had the Texters breaking away from Blackwater and keeping their immaculate slate in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Closing out with a 33-11 run in the last eight minutes, the Texters last night went on to tear the Elite apart, 109-89, in a Petron Saturday Special game to jack their record up to 5-0 and inch closer to a playoff berth in the season-closing conference at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Mychal Ammons came in to take the spot of the injured Mario Little and shot 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, but it was the sustained resiliency of coach Jong Uichico’s local crew led by super rookie Troy Rosario which spelled the difference for the Texters.
Rosario, the second overall pick by Mahindra in the Draft before being traded to the Texters, had 16 points and 13 rebounds, with Ranidel de Ocampo shooting 20 that went with six board and four assists as TNT dealt the Elite a fourth loss in five games.
“We were rusty at the start (after the All-Star break) and we were feeling out Ammons,” Uichico told reporters after the Texters trailed at the end of the first quarter and starting the third. “He (Ammons) was trying to feel us out also. We struggled, yes.”
Rain or Shine got back on the winning track after scoring a 117-114 decision of Alaska in the second game.
The Elasto Painters bucked the loss of coach Yeng Guiao because of technical fouls in the third period to rise to 3-2 overall.
The Aces also dropped to 1-4 with their third straight defeat.
Blackwater saw unfortunate injuries happen to key big men in JP Erram, who was wheeled out on stretcher with 5:33 left in the second period after hearing something pop in his right knee while going for a drive.
Import Eric Dawson also hobbled in the fourth period because of back spasms and was pulled out with over eight minutes left.
That was when the Texters struck hardest.
Uichico also had personnel problems, with Jason Castro excusing himself as early as Friday night after an accident supposedly involving his wife and kid at home.
Castro, though, with less than an hour before tip-off, showed up and played in the second half, finishing with seven points and five assists as he quarterbacked the Texters during that finishing salvo.
The scores:
First Game
TNT KATROPA 109—De Ocampo 20, Ammons 18, Rosario 16, Madanly 15, Fonacier 8, Castro 7, Rosales 6, Williams 6, Carey 5, Reyes 4, Rosser 2, Nuyles 2.
BLACKWATER 89—Cervantes 22, Dawson 13, Lastimosa 12, Erram 9, Qahwash 8, Pascual 7, Dela Cruz 6, Gamalinda 6, Reyes 4, Sena 2, Canada 0, Cortez 0, Golla 0, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 21-22, 40-43, 74-71, 109-89
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 117—Lowhorn 24, Lee 18, Quinahan 16, Tiu 13, Chan 10, Cruz 9, Norwood 8, Almazan 6, Belga 6, Ponferada 4, Trollano 3, Ahanmisi 0, Nimes 0.
ALASKA 114—Henton 41, Abueva 17, Casio 13, Hontiveros 13, Thoss 11, Jazul 8, Racal 5, Exciminiano 3, Baclao 2, Menk 1, Banchero 0, Magat 0.
Quarters: 22-17, 56-53, 82-82, 117-114