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Shutting down the supporting cast of the PBA’s most prolific guard duo on Saturday, TNT KaTropa moved within a victory of the Philippine Cup’s Final Four after pulling out a 109-101 victory over GlobalPort in Game 1 of their quarterfinal series at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
And coach Nash Racela wants more of the same for the second game this Monday, although he promised to keep trying to hold down Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
“Our focus was to limit their production,” Racela said of their defensive ploy for the series opener that didn’t work. “They still got their averages today. The [players] really did their best today, but Terrence was just hitting some tough shots.”
The Texters, though, put the clamps on the others who could do the damage as they erased an early 12-point deficit and went on to lead by as large as 18 to take a huge psychological edge in Monday’s 7 p.m. contest at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“It’s a big thing, winning Game 1 in a series this short,” said TNT ace Jason Castro, who came off the bench to lead all Texters with 20 points. “It’s now like having a twice-to-beat advantage.”
Star also took a 1-0 lead in its own series after blasting Phoenix Petroleum, 114-83, in the second game.
Paul Lee led Star with 22 points.
Both the Texters and the Hotshots will try to close out the series on Monday.
Romeo scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth period, while Pringle scattered 19, but the Texters’ defense held down usual heavy scorers like Niño Canaleta and Mike Cortez.
“We need to find a way to limit their touches,” Racela said when asked what he needs to do to Romeo and Pringle. “If we can limit their touches, we could have a better chance.”
Meanwhile, defending champion San Miguel Beer and Alaska, the top two seeds after the eliminations and with twice-to-beat privileges, battle Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra, respectively.
The Beermen take the Ynares Center floor in Antipolo first at 4:30 p.m. against the Elasto Painters, before the Aces slug it out with the Gin Kings at 6:45 p.m.