Trailing practically all of Friday night, TNT KaTropa did all the right things in the endgame on both ends and dealt Alaska another painful defeat, 107-106, in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RR Pogoy scored 16 points in the fourth period, Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo knocked down crucial jumpers and the Texters rallied even with import Michael Craig leaving the game as TNT rose to 2-1.
Alaska blew leads as large as 14 points and dropped to 0-4 this conference, its streak for futility now up to 12 games dating back to the last conference.
The 13th game in that streak would be Blackwater on Aug. 23.
“We knew all along that Alaska is becoming a very dangerous team [despite their losing streak],” TNT coach Nash Racela said. “Despite the situation they are in, I think it will just be a matter of time before they win again. I just didn’t want that to happen in this game.”
Craig still went on to lead the Texters with 28 points, with Pogoy finishing with 25 after making a career-high seven triples.
LeDontae Henton led the Aces with 42 points, but missed what would have been the game-winning running jumper near the buzzer.