KaTropa make it

Phoenix reluctantly stepped out of Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, never to return in this season’s PBA Philippine Cup.

TNT KaTropa brazenly ushered the Fuel Masters to the exit with an overpowering 118-97 win in a knockout setting for the eighth and final quarterfinal spot.

In the end, it was the depth, playoff experience and shooting prowess that mattered largely for the KaTropa, who rained down threes in the middle quarters to put their elimination round tormentors away.

The absence of proper spacing in the paint forced Troy Rosario to take his game from beyond the arc, firing four threes before halftime that shoved them slightly ahead and set the tone for the blowout.

Jayson Castro craftily bored holes in the Phoenix defense and fed Jericho Cruz and inside operator Kelly Williams, opening a double-digit advantage going into the final period.

So fluid was the KaTropa offense that they just went through the process of counting down the minutes while protecting a 20-point lead.

With big boss Manny V. Pangilinan watching at ringside, TNT arranged a must-win tiff with league-leading San Miguel Beer in the next round.

TNT 118—Rosario 18, Castro 17, Cruz 17, Pogoy 15, Semerad 12, Williams 11, Tautuaa 10, Reyes 5, Garcia 4, Tamsi 4, Paredes 3, Nuyles 2, Carey 0, Golla 0, Torres 0.

PHOENIX 97—Wright 18, Kramer 16, Alolino 13, Jazul 11, Perkins 10, Chan 9, Mendoza 7, Eriobu 5, Intal 4, Guevarra 2, Wilson 2, Cortes 0, Dehesa 0, Gamboa 0.

Quarters: 27-25, 54-49, 94-76, 118-97