Hitting their stride
Blackwater’s Mac Belo leaps to avoid colliding with TNT’s Ryan Reyes, who loses possession of the leather. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
ANTIPOLO—TNT coach Bong Ravena asked the KaTropa during the halftime lull to approach Saturday’s match against Blackwater with a “locked-in” mentality.
The pleading paid dividends as soon as the second half resumed. TNT, already ahead by five, padded its lead again and again en route to a 127-89 drubbing of Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup hostilities at Ynares Center here.
“We’re happy [with] the win, but we were not because they scored 34 points against us in the second quarter,” TNT coach Bong Ravena said.
“So we told the guys to stay in control and be locked in. I’m glad, they pulled through,” he added.
RR Pogoy, who was returning from an illness, caught fire in the KaTropa’s blistering start to the final period. He emptied 12 of his total 28 points in that quarter and helped his teammates assemble a 26-0 run that left the Elite gasping.
TNT’s blistering, unanswered run in the final quarter is the most by any team in the league.
“I’m happy with the way I played,” Pogoy said in Filipino. But he added that he is even happier for the three straight victories his team has collected because of their stellar play on defense.
“He came out strong and ready to play,” Ravena said of the sweet-shooting Gilas Pilipinas standout.
Magnolia delivered a sterling performance from both ends of the court to take down Alaska, 103-86, in Saturday’s nightcap.
The Hotshots imposed their will on the defensive end, keeping the Aces under 20 points in the middle quarters.
“Ynares has been very good to us,” coach Chito Victolero jokingly said in Filipino. “Maybe this place is our lucky charm.”
The KaTropa’s Troy Rosario and Don Trollano pumped in 17 and 11 markers respectively, to help the team move to a 5-3 slate—and stay in the hunt for a twice-to-beat playoff incentive.
“The players have been focusing now on defense, unlike before. It’s now their priority to make stops,” said Ravena.
TNT compiled 14 steals and seven blocks to hand Blackwater, which never got a taste of the lead, its worst beatdown since losing to Rain or Shine by 38 points in 2015.
