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[av_heading heading=’TNT waylays Ginebra in Comm’s Cup semis’ 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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Monday, June 12, 2017
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MANILA – TNT Katropa survived an endgame run by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to score 100-94 in Game 1 of their 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinals match on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Reinforcement Joshua Smith led the way with double-double 35 points and 13 rebounds for Katropa, which aims to regain the Commissioner’s Cup championship that it failed to defend last year.
Katropa went on a strong 12-3 start in the game behind Roger Pogoy and Kelly Williams. Kings tried to keep it close at 6 points but Katropa pulled away anew on back-to-back hits by RR Garcia.
Katropa continued its hot shooting in the second frame as it widened the lead to 12 points after a triple by Troy Rosario and inside hits by Smith. Kings, however, trimmed the deficit to 45-37 at the half.
Ginebra even pulled to as close as 4 in the third canto on a Justin Brownlee triple, but TNT responded with hits from David Semerad, Smith and Pogoy for its largest lead, 64-49.
Kings kept it close since then and was able to come within 92-90 on hits by LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson, but Katropa responded with inside hits from Smith and a triple by Jayson Castro to widen the lead to 100-94.
“We are happy to win Game 1, but knowing Ginebra and coach Tim Cone, they will bounce back in Game 2, so we will try to prepare for that,” said Katropa head coach Nash Racela.
Meanwhile Star Hotshots will try to shoot for a 2-0 advantage in their own best-of-five semifinals series against San Miguel Beermen tonight. Hotshots won the first game on Saturday, 108-104./PN
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