Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
TNT returned to winning form but not after surviving a winless Columbian side, 118-114, in overtime in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The KaTropa, who played without head coach Nash Racela who was reportedly put on leave after the team’s poor start this conference, stopped a three-game losing skid to improve their record to 2-3 while the Dyip slid to 0-5.
Jayson Castro was the first to perform his heroic act for the KaTropa hitting a long three-pointer from the top of the key for TNT’s 115-112 lead with 2:22 left in overtime.
Romeo then had his own clutch play scoring a layup against the defense of Rashawn McCarthy, whom he proceeded to taunt, for TNT’s 117-114 lead with 57.2 seconds remaining in the game.
TNT assistant coach Eric Gonzales, who did not talk too much about the game, said the team is in the middle of fixing itself in the middle of this bumpy start.
“I was just surprised with what happened and I was still with coach Nash last night and he didn’t know what was about to happen,” said Gonzales in Filipino. “After the things that happened I just hoped for the best and I dedicate this win to coach Nash.”
“There are still things to be done for TNT, it will be hard but I’m thankful for this opportunity.”
Castro finished with 25 points, six rebonds, and seven assists for the KaTropa while Romeo had 22 points and six dimes.
Roger Pogoy played bigger than his listed 6’2” height and put up a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double for TNT.
Jerramy King finished with 26 points and nine rebounds for the Dyip who have yet to win a game in the Governors’ Cup since 2016, a time when Manny Pacquiao was still in their roster.