MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga drew first blood in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Finals with its 88-70 Game 1 domination of the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots last night at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Rookie Mikey Williams had a solid PBA Finals debut with 21 points, including five three-point conversions, to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
John Paul Erram added 14 markers while Kelly Williams contributed 10 points for the Tropang Giga to take a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven titular showdown.
The Tropang Giga were so dominant that veterans Jeth Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro needed only eight, seven and one point, respectively, before resting the fourth quarter.
Showing field goal efficiency, the Tropang Giga shot 42-percent from the field by drilling 24 of their 51 shots. They also converted 11 outside baskets.
TNT also banked on their defense. They stifled Magnolia to a 25-percent shooting and also forced them to commit 28 turnovers, converting such to 26 points.
The Tropang Giga jumped to a 12-2 start behind early offense from Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo and Kelly. It maintained the edge at 24-14 after the first quarter on late hits by Pogoy.
Midway in the second quarter, the TNT were still on top by 10 points before widening their gap with inside hits by Dave Marcelo and consecutive treys by Mikey and Glenn Khobuntin for a 53-34 halftime edge.
The Hotshots trimmed the deficit to 16 points early in the third before the Tropang Giga took the fight away from them via conversions from Pogoy and Rosario as the lead reached its largest at 32 points.
Paul Lee and Jackson Corpuz top-scored with 12 markers apiece, while Calvin Abueva chipped in double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Hotshots./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 88 — M. Williams 21, Erram 14, K. Williams 10, Rosario 8, Montalbo 7, Pogoy 7, Mendoza 6, Khobuntin 5, Marcelo 4, Reyes 3, Alejandro 2, Castro 1, Heruela 0, Exciminiano 0, Javier 0.
MAGNOLIA 70 — Lee 12, Corpuz 12, Abueva 11, Dela Rosa 7, Sangalang 5, Ahanmisi 5, Barroca 4, De Leon 4, Capobres 4, Jalalon 3, Pascual 2, Brill 1, Reavis 0, Melton 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores: 24-14, 53-34, 74-48, 88-70.
