TNT enters semifinals with no.1 spot

“Final : 98 – 83 in favor of the TNT KaTropa! Best Player: Terrence Jones with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists #PBACommsCup #PBALabanKungLaban” (Photo: PBA/Facebook)

The Talk N Text KaTropa have secured the top seed entering the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup after overcoming the Magnolia Hotshots, 98-83, last Wednesday, July 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was the KaTropa’s import Terrence Jones who successfully led his team to the number one spot at 26 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks. RR Pogoy assisted Jones with 20 points in total, the KaTropa firing in the first quarter with a 10-0 run against the Hotshots. Jayson Castro and Brian Heruela added 13 points individually.

For the Hotshots, it was Paul Lee and PJ Simon who kept their team breathing at 23 and 16 points respectively, while Ian Sangalang totalled 15. New import and former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Rakeem Christmas made his debut for Magnolia, but he struggled with eight points and 14 rebounds.

TNT head coach Bong Ravena commented on his team’s win, saying in Filipino, “We just wanted to end the elimination round on a winning note. At the same time, we wanted to make winning into a habit. We’re building our consistency so that we can carry over our record and our momentum to the playoffs.”

The KaTropa, who finish the eliminations with a 10-1 win-loss standing, are still awaiting their matchup for the playoffs as Alaska and Meralco tough it out for spot no.8 next Friday, July 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena, while fans can expect a Manila Clasico matchup, or Barangay Ginebra against the Magnolia Hotshots, in the next leg of the season. Magnolia stands fifth place at five wins and six losses. 

The first playoff match for TNT is on Sunday, July 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while the Hotshots are facing the Beermen a day before that at the Mall of Asia Arena.