Castro erupts for 42 as TNT returns to semis

TNT’s Jayson Castro. PBA IMAGES

ANTIPOLO-—Jayson Castro was near unstoppable and TNT blew past Phoenix, 136-124, for its first semifinals appearance in four conferences in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night at Ynares Center here.

Castro scored at will to finish with 42 points, just two shy of matching his career-best, in just 26 minutes as the KaTropa set up a best-of-five semifinals date with the Meralco Bolts starting on Tuesday.

“We just moved to the next round. That’s all that happened today. We didn’t defend well in today’s game but we were able to score and that cannot happen in the semis,” said TNT head coach Jong Uichico. “We enjoy the win for the minute. When we step out of the coliseum, we prepare for the next game.”

“He scored a lot already in the first half. Jayson’s becoming an all-around player,” Uichico said of his superstar guard.

Castro already had 29 points at the half then added 11 more in the third quarter to spearhead TNT’s breakaway.

Phoenix stayed in step with TNT for three and a half quarters until the KaTropa seemed to decide it was time to steamroll their opponents.

And they did.

After a back-and-forth battle, TNT switched to a higher gear and left Phoenix in the wake of a blistering 27-12 run in the last six minutes of the third period.

The KaTropa were merciless with Castro keeping the Fuel Masters on their heels and fellow veterans Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo hitting timely 3-pointers that made Phoenix think twice about doubling on the cat-quick Castro.

Eugene Phelps had 39 points and 17 assists for Phoenix, but TNT, which had six players with at least 12 points, just had more firepower to show.

Michael Madanly scored 17 while Ryan Reyes and de Ocampo added 16. Fonacier and Kelly Williams chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

TNT shot 15-of-29 from downtown with Castro, de Ocampo, Fonacier and Reyes combining for 15-of-22.