TNT shreds Meralco in PBA semis opener
TNT KaTropa’s Jayson Castro. PBA IMAGES
TNT showed no love for sister team Meralco, blasting the Bolts, 113-95, to start their best-of-5 semifinals series in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The KaTropa used a strong third quarter charge, unloading 39 points in the frame, to turn a close 45-43 halftime lead to a 21-point cushion, 84-63.
Michael Madanly came alive in the second half, pouring all but two of his 22 points in the final two quarters as he shot 4-of-6 from three. The Syrian reinforcement ignited the team’s pullaway in the third period leading to a 24-point advantage, 113-89, near the endgame.
The KaTropa found their groove from rainbow country, going 15-of-30 as a unit much to the delight of coach Jong Uichico.
“Both teams were making their shots. But in the third quarter, they missed some and we were able to convert on the other end,” the coach said on his team’s mercurial offensive showing in the third quarter.
But Uichico refuses to be content with the series still a long way to go.
“It’s just the first game. It’s a series and everybody is saying we’re going back to the drawing board,” he said. “We can’t afford Meralco to come back and we can’t let out guard down. We haven’t accomplished anything. We need three wins to get to the Finals and we still have a long way to go.”
Troy Rosario added 16 markers on a 4-of-5 sniping from beyond the arc, while Mychal Ammons got a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Jayson Castro finished with 14 markers, nine assists, and four rebounds for TNT.
Allen Durham topped Meralco with 26 points, 21 rebounds, and seven assists in the defeat, while Cliff Hodge got 16 markers and eight boards.
The Scores
TNT 113 – Madanly 22, Rosario 16, Ammons 15, Castro 14, De Ocampo 12, Fonacier 9, Williams 8, Reyes 6, Rosales 6, Tautuaa 5, Ababou 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
MERALCO 95 – Durham 26, Hodge 16, Dillinger 12, Alapag 8, Amer 8, Hugnatan 8, Faundo 6, Nabong 3, Newsome 3, Uyloan 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Buenafe 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 24-23, 45-43, 84-67, 113-95.
