De Ocampo, Castro bail out TNT KaTropa

PBA IMAGES

Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro conspired for the game-winning play as TNT escaped GlobalPort, 122-120, in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Castro led the way for the league-leading KaTropa (7-1) with 37 points and eight assists, including a kickout pass to de Ocampo for a long two that broke a 120-deadlock with 5.7 seconds remaining.

“We needed this win, any way, any how,” said TNT head coach Jong Uichico, whose team bounced back from a 107-104 loss to Mahindra last Friday.

“It’s a read whoever is open. He (Castro) found Ranidel open and he made the big shot,” Uichico said of his team’s well-executed play.

The KaTropa led by as much as 24 and were still comfortably ahead by 16 early in the fourth quarter, but found themselves scrambling in the endgame with Mike Glover, Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo spearheading the Batang Pier’s rally.

Pringle had one spectacular play after another with his back-to-back layups inside the final minute tying the game at 120 with 41.7 ticks left.

The star playmaker, though, didn’t finish the game the way he wanted to. With a chance to tie, Pringle turned the ball over after throwing an errant pass to Jay Washington.

Glover paced the Batang Pier (3-5), whose winning streak ended at three games, with 38 points and 18 rebounds while Romeo added 33 points. Pringle finished with 25 points and two steals.

Glover and Romeo combined for 25 of their team’s 34 points in the fourth period.