By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
THE TNT KaTropa caught a break and stopped their losing skein on Sunday, defeating the Columbian Dyip, 118-114, in overtime in their battle of struggling teams in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing sans head coach Nash Racela, who was reportedly “put on leave” by management following a rough start to the season-ending PBA conference, TNT held steady amid a resilient fight from Columbian to wiggle out of a three-game losing streak and get back to winning while infusing life back to its flickering campaign.
Led by guard Terrence Romeo, the KaTropa raced to an early lead in the opening quarter of the contest.
The count stood at 8-7 and TNT on top with 9:38 to go in the first quarter before the KaTropa went on a 14-2 run with Mr. Romeo leading the charge to build a 22-9 advantage midway into the frame.
Columbian tried to rally back behind Jerramy King but TNT would hold strong to take a 40-26 lead after the first 12 minutes.
The Dyip started the second quarter with more spring to their game.
With contributions coming from different directions, Columbian would manage to narrow the gap to four points, 49-45, with 4:03 to go in the period.
But Jayson Castro would douse water on the rally of the Dyip, hitting back-to-back triples in the next minute to give his team more elbow room, 55-45, which they would use as leverage to remain in control, 61-48, by the halftime break.
Columbian continued to fight back in the third period as import Akeem Wright got his groove going.
They cut back TNT’s lead to five points a number of times, the last one at 73-68 at the 4:53 mark, but continued to be under heading into final canto, 84-77.
Mr. Wright and RaShawn McCarthy got the Dyip to a fast start in the fourth period, helping their team to reclaim the lead, 90-89, with 7:21 to go in the game.
The two teams had a slugfest after, fighting to a 104-103 count, with TNT ahead, entering the last two minutes.
The KaTropa extended their lead to four points, 107-103, after Roger Pogoy hit a triple with 1:05 remaining.
Mr. Wright cut TNT’s lead to two, 107-105, with a quick layup seven seconds later.
TNT tried to add on to its lead after but its trip down court went fruitless.
Columbian sued for time with 18 ticks left on the clock to set up a play.
It went to Mr. Wright who drove to the basket and drop off at the last moment to Russell Escoto to tie the score at 107-all with 10 seconds to go.
The KaTropa called time and set up a play but Mr. Romeo’s looper as time expired did not fall, sending the game to extra period.
Momentum swung in overtime with the two teams exchanging leads.
TNT was on top, 115-114, with a minute left in the match before Mr. Romeo made it a three-point lead, 117-114, with 57 seconds remaining.
The score stood the same with 17 seconds left as the Dyip called a timeout.
They were forced to a turnover, however, which proved to be an error they could not recover from.
Mr. Castro led TNT with 25 points and seven assists while Mr. Romeo added 22 points and six dimes.
Mr. Pogoy had 16 while Anthony Semerad had 15 points.
Import Stacy Davis only had 11 points in 22 limited minutes.
Mr. King, meanwhile, paced the Dyip with 26 points with Mr. Wright finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Mr. McCarthy had 18 points.
With the win TNT improved to 2-4 while Columbian remained winless at 0-5.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR