TNT 2nd half run ends Blackwater’s promising run

Tropang TNT logo used during the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup (Wikimedia commons, Fair use)

MANILA — TNT picked up the pace in the second half to turn back Blackwater, 92-83, in the main game of the PBA Philippine Cup doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night.

Looking to end up at the wrong side of yet another giant slaying by the Elite by halftime, the KaTropa outscored them, 29-14, in the third quarter to turn a 36-43 deficit to a 65-57 lead entering the fourth period. They would stretch their lead to as high as 17, 76-59, early in the fourth and never looked back.

RR Pogoy dropped 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting with eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals off the bench, while Jayson Castro also had significant contributions off the bench with 17 markers, five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks for TNT, which tied its victim at 2-2.

Poy Erram led Blackwater, whose winning streak was snapped at two, with 20 points, eight boards, one dime, two blocks, and four steals in a game where ace player Mac Belo was limited to only nine points on 4-of-18 shooting. Belo, however, got 13 caroms, three assists, one steal, and one rejection.

Box Scores:

TNT 92 – Pogoy 24, Castro 17, Garcia 12, Semerad 11, Rosario 9, Williams 6, Tautuaa 6, Torres 5, Reyes 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Golla 0

Blackwater 83 – Erram 20, Cortez 14, Digregorio 9, Belo 9, Maliksi 9, Jose 7, Sumang 5, Marcelo 4, Sena 4, Pinto 2, Cruz 0