Pogoy scores 45, Castro clutch as TNT tops Alaska

PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Jayson Castro came up big in the clutch as TNT held off Alaska, 100-95, to open the PBA Philippine Cup restart at Angeles University Foundation Sunday in Pampanga.

RR Pogoy went nuclear in the first game of the PBA bubble, putting up a career-high 45 points on 10-of-17 shooting from deep.

Castro, meanwhile, picked it up late, converting on a drive to give the Tropang Giga a 98-95 cushion with 27.5 seconds.

The Aces blew an early 17-point lead and had two crucial errors down the stretch.

Alaska held a 32-15 at the start of the second quarter but TNT slowly chipped it away with Pogoy nailing his 10th triple to tie the game at 92 with 2:54 left in the fourth.

The highly physical game saw a combined 55 fouls including an ejection on TNT center Poy Erram after he got called for one technical and, later, a flagrant 1 after hitting Barkley Eboña on the back of the head.

Pogoy sustained a cut above his left eyebrow after he collided with Mike Digregorio on a rebound play in the final frame.

Castro finished with 28 points, six of those coming in the final 1:07, with five rebounds, and three steals.

Alaska saw four players put up at least 15 points with Abu Tratter leading the way with 17 points while Robbie Herndon and Digregorio had 16 apiece.