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[av_heading heading=’ Katropa frustrates SMB, levels Finals’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Thursday, June 29, 2017
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MANILA – TNT leaned on the exploits of Jayson Castro in the endgame to score 102-97 against San Miguel in Game 4 of the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 86-81 with under five minutes left in the game, Castro ignited a huge 13-5 scoring run for Katropa to take a 94-89 advantage after an inside conversion by Ranidel de Ocampo.
Beermen came to within 3 points on a basket by Charles Rhodes but Castro responded with two straight inside hits to increase TNT’s lead to 101-93 after two free throws by Joshua Smith.
Castro finished with 17 points, with 10 coming in the final quarter, for TNT.
Smith led the way with 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy came back from two scoreless games to contribute 14 points.
“All we did is tie the series and cut it down to a best-of-three,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela. “There is nothing to celebrate yet. We just have to prepare since we expect San Miguel to bounce back in Game 5.”
Katropa aim to regain the Commissioner’s Cup crown after failing to defend it last year.
Before the game, San Miguel guard Chris Ross and Rhodes were awarded the Best Player of the Conference and the Best Import of the Conference, respectively.
Ross claimed his first BPC award after edging out teammate Alex Cabagnot in media, players and PBA votes. Rhodes was the runaway winner in the best reinforcement race./PN
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SCORES
TNT 102 – Smith 20, Castro 17, Pogoy 14, De Ocampo 13, Rosario 13, Garcia 10, Tautuaa 6, Reyes 3, Rosales 3, Williams 2, Semerad 1, Carey 0
SAN MIGUEL 97 – Rhodes 22, Cabagnot 18, Lassiter 14, Fajardo 13, Santos 12, Ross 8, De Ocampo 4, Heruela 3, Tubid 3, Semerad 0, Espinas 0, McCarthy 0, Van Opstal 0, Agovida 0
QUARTERS – 27-24, 49-47, 63-66, 102-97
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