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Marqus Blakely had 26 points and 14 rebounds for his new team as TNT shrugged off a shaky and slippery first half to hold off Rain or Shine, 110-104, Saturday in the PBA Governors’ Cup in Iloilo City.
Blakely almost notched a triple double and had eight assists as the KaTropa also leaned on the 24 points and seven rebounds of Troy Rosario and the 22 points of Terrence Romeo to give new head coach Bong Ravena and consultant Mark Robert Dickel a winning start to their partnership at the TNT bench.
Blakely, who made nine of his first 10 shots, had a dunk that gave TNT a 72-66 lead in the third and triggered a huge second half run after trailing several times in the first two quarters.
The KaTropa struggled to get things going in the first half and slipped—literally—against the Elasto Painters, who were making their first appearance in the tournament.
Rain or Shine was given a long break after its core was tasked to represent the country in the Asian Games in Indonesia recently.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra collide in an expectedly tough encounter for the first time since their Commissioner’s Cup championship duel won by the Kings.
Game time is at 6:45 p.m., right after Magnolia battles a resurgent Phoenix squad in the 4:30 p.m. opener at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen are coming off a scorching rout of Columbian, where they tied the league record of three-pointers made with 23.
The Kings, meanwhile, lost to Blackwater Friday night and will go into the game with key players Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar doubtful due to injuries. —FRANCIS T. J. OCHOA