Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
TNT climbed out of a 14-point hole to stun Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 108-103, for its first win in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ranidel de Ocampo took over in the fourth quarter where he scored 15 of his team-high 22 points for the KaTropa, who improved to 1-1 without their superstar guard Jayson Castro.
“Even when Jayson is there, Ranidel is our leader. I called a lot of plays for him and he delivered,” said TNT assistant coach Josh Reyes. “He’s just somebody we really trust in those kinds of situations.”
De Ocampo spurred an 18-4 run to tie the game at 99 with 2:30 to go.
He tied the game anew at 102 with a trey and dished out a crucial assist to Kelly Williams for the go-ahead bucket, 104-103 in the final 1:25.
Joe Devance failed to connect on his trey as Roger Pogoy and Larry Fonacier iced the game at the free throw line.
“It feels good to finally get a win after our rough first game, but we still have a lot to do,” said Reyes as TNT still awaits the return of Castro (rest).
Fonacier and Pogoy both had 15 markers, while Troy Rosario and Mo Tautuaa had 12 in the win.
LA Tenorio topscored for Ginebra with 27 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while Devance and Japeth Aguilar wound up with 15 in the loss.
The scores:
TNT 108 – De Ocampo 22, Pogoy 15, Fonacier 15, Tautuaa 12, Rosario 12, Williams 11, Ganuelas-Rosser 10, Reyes 8, Carey 3, Hernandez 0, Rosales 0, Sumalinog 0.
GINEBRA 103 – Tenorio 27, Aguilar 15, Devance 15, Thompson 13, Ellis 12, Mercado 7, Marcelo 6, Caguioa 4, Ferrer 3, Mariano 1, Cruz 0, Taha 0.
Quarters: 34-30, 53-53, 76-87, 108-103.