3IRREPRESSIBLE TNT brought down Magnolia 83-76 last night to stretch its winning streak to six in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Jayson Castro shot 17 points to lead the Tropang Giga’s balanced offense while their defense repeatedly stymied the Hotshots, spelling the biggest difference in the match between two pre-tournament favorites.
TNT remained firmly entrenched on top of the standings while Magnolia dropped to 5-2 in a tie with Meralco at second.
Calvin Abueva scored a game-high 23 points for Magnolia but he and fellow frontliner Ian Sangalang were saddled by foul trouble that limited their full effectiveness. Paul Lee also felt TNT’s pressure as he finished with 13 points but just two in the last two quarters.
In the day’s other game, Juami Tiongson may have cooled offbut Terrafirma still waxed hot to beating Blackwater 96-84 and also stay perfect in the semi-bubble set-up.
After averaging 29.5 points in back-to-back wins over San Miguel Beer and defending champion Ginebra, Tiongson came off the bench this time and managed only 10 points.
But his teammates stepped up, with the likes of Aldrech Ramos and Reden Celda coming up big as the Dyip posted their third straight win and improved to 3-4.
Ramos had a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds while Celda tallied a personal conference-best 15 points on top of six boards and four assists while starring in Terrafirma’s massive fourth quarter barrage that broke Blackwater’s back.
Even Andreas Cahilig chipped in his ample share with 12 points and 11 rebounds, five of those off the offensive glass, while Rashawn McCarthy added 10 points and four dimes.
Dyip coach Johnedel Cardel was simply proud of the way his players kept their composure and continued to play as a team despite falling behind by as many as 13 points early.
“The other guys I know may ilalaro pa sila, like Red,” said Cardel. “And some other players nandiyan lang naman. I told them, ‘You have to play as a team. Tulungan natin si Juami na ma-open. Pag hindi, he will be the one to act as decoy.’”
The loss was Blackwater’s third in the province and seventh in all as its losing skein dating back to October of last year got stretched to a franchise-low worst games.
Mike Tolomia scored 14 points, Simon Enciso had 13 and Ed Daquioag and Paul Desiderio and Baser Amer had at least 11 points each for the Bossing.
Enciso scattered 11 of his points in the first half and that practically typified Blackwater’s game as it led by as much as 40-27 in the second quarter, only to get swallowed up whole when Celda and Ramos led a huge Terrafirma surge from the game’s last deadlock at 65.
Celda scored nine and Ramos added four ina 26-5 onslaught that gave the Dyip a 91-73 lead and practically put the game away with still 3:14 to go.
“I know it will happen,” said Cardel, referring to his team falling behind early.
“Sinabi ko nga, Blackwater they will show up with no pressure. They have great players, great coach,” added Cardel. “But we stayed focused, we played defense, stayed patient kaya nakalayo kami.”
The TNT-Magnolia game was held at an earlier timeslot after what was supposed to be the day’s second game pitting Meralco and Ginebra was postponed to a later date in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.
The postponement was the PBA’s second in as many days after Saturday’s Alaska-SMB tiff was also re-scheduled for the same reason.
