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In a performance that his coach described as phenomenal, Donte Greene led a shorthanded TNT KaTropa crew that burst the bubble of invincibility surrounding powerhouse San Miguel Beer.
Greene drained 41 points and plucked down 21 boards on Friday night and led the Texters to a 112-103 decision of the Beermen that stopped the chug-chugging San Miguel train dead on its tracks at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win also put TNT back in the hunt for a top two berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
And TNT pulled it off with Jason Castro, Troy Rosario and super rookie RR Pogoy on loan to national cause, riding Greene and Larry Fonacier at the crunch to rise to 6-2 while dealing the Beermen their first loss in six games.
San Miguel played without franchise player June Mar Fajardo but got a huge game from import Charles Rhodes, who engaged Greene into a trash-talking match practically all game but had to swallow the bitter pill in the end despite winning their personal duel.
“Donte was phenomenal,” TNT coach Nash Racela said after also acknowledging his veterans for stepping up in the absence of three members.
“The guys were really ready to step forward and contribute.”
Kelly Williams fired 15 points and Fonacier hit nine points in the fourth, counting the last two of his four triples in the stretch that helped put the Beermen away.
Earlier, Phoenix Petroleum posted a come-from-behind 84-72 win over GlobalPort.
The Fuel Masters must sweep their last games—against Mahindra and NLEX—to have a chance of making it to the next round.
Meanwhile, defending champion Rain or Shine tries to get back on the winning track when it clashes with Star in a Petron Saturday Special Game slated at 5 p.m. at Batangas City Coliseum.