TNT opens campaign on winning note, routs Elite
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE TNT KaTropa got their Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup campaign to a winning start, routing the Blackwater Elite, 135-107, in their battle of debuting teams on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Found their offensive groove early in the contest, the KaTropa, runners-up in the previous conference, charged no end and built on it the rest of the way.
The KaTropa had a fiery start with contributions coming from different directions.
They would hold a 53-30 lead with 6:32 left in the first half and threatened to pull away.
But Blackwater made a spirited 13-0 run in the next three minutes to make it a 10-point affair, 53-43.
KJ McDaniels and the rest of the KaTropa though steadied their ship after to widen their advantage anew, 63-46, at the half.
In the third quarter the Elite were able to build momentum to gain some real estate on the lead of forward Mac Belo.
They came to within 12 points, 66-54, with just two minutes lapsing.
Like what they have been doing for much of the game, however, the KaTropa continued to find ways to cap any headway by the Elite.
Roger Pogoy and Don Trollano helped TNT answer with a 19-6 run to make it a 23-point lead by the 5:14 mark of the quarter.
The Elite tried to narrow the gap for the remainder of the period but with little success as the KaTropa continued to hold sway, 97-80, with one final quarter to play.
With firm control of the match, TNT spent the fourth quarter fortifying their lead some more before going for the closeout.
The score was at 122-94 for the KaTropa with 4:12 remaining and by then it was all over.
Mr. McDaniels led the balanced and thorough attack by TNT with all-around numbers of 41 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists, five blocks and two steals.
Mr. Pogoy had 22 points with Troy Rosario and Mr. Trollano adding 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Jayson Castro, meanwhile, had a near triple-double of 17 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the KaTropa.
TNT shot 60% from the field and had 32 assists for the game.
For Blackwater it was Ray Parks Jr. who showed the way with 39 points with Allein Maliksi adding 15 and Roi Sumang 14.
Import Marqus Blakely had a poor showing, finishing with just four points and four rebounds before limping out because of cramps in the third quarter and did not come back.
TNT next faces the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sept. 28 while Blackwater battles the NLEX Road Warriors on Sept. 29.
