MANILA — Troy Rosario netted 30 points, and TNT took a 91-85 win over Meralco in a crucial PBA Commissioner’s Cup match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday night.
However, it was a team effort in the fourth that did the trick for the KaTropa, as Rosario’s teammates led the breakaway that saw them go up by as much as 15 points while keeping the Bolts in check the rest of the way.
Rosario tallied a double-double with 12 rebounds, alongside one assist and one block for TNT, which tied its victim in third place at 7-3.
Jayson Castro added 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a game where Joshua Smith sat out the rest of the game after getting hit in the nose in the third quarter.
Chris Newsome also tallied 17 markers, eight rebounds, two dimes, and one steal for Meralco, which will play Rain Or Shine on Sunday night to finish its elimination campaign.
The scores:
TNT 91: Rosario 30, Castro 20, Cruz 11, Pogoy 7, Romeo 6, Smith 6, Trollano 4, Semerad 3, Taha 2, Williams 2, Paredes 0, Carey 0, Reyes 0, Garcia 0.
Meralco 85: Newsome 17, Dillinger 12, Amer 12, Hodge 11, De Ocampo 11, Caram 10, Onuaku 8, Baracael 2, Canaleta 2, Hugnatan 0, Lanete 0, Tolomia 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 36-38, 65-59, 91-85.