MANILA – TNT KaTropa got outside shots to fall in the fourth quarter to eke out a 123-118 victory over the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jeth Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy combined for seven three-pointers in the payoff period while KJ McDaniels pounded his way inside as the KaTropa broke away from the Fuel Masters for its third straight win.
Holding to a 94-91 edge after three quarters, the KaTropa opened the fourth quarter with consecutive triples from Rosario and Pogoy for a 103-95 edge.
The Fuel Masters played catch up but more triples from Pogoy and Rosario gave TNT a 120-110 edge.
Phoenix made its last push at 118-122 on inside baskets from Eugene Phelps and Alex Mallari. A free throw by Rosario, however, and crucial defensive stops sealed the win for the TNT.
Rosario and McDaniels top-scored with 32 points each while Pogoy, Jayson Castro and Celedonio Trollano contributed 22, 20 and 13 markers, respectively.
Matthew Wright tallied 30 points, including four outside shots, Phelps contributed double-double 29 points and 11 rebounds as the Fuel Masters slumped to 1-3 win-loss slate.
In the first game, Columbian Dyip came back from a double-digit first half deficit to score a come-from-behind 114-108 victory over the NorthPort Batang Pier.
After being down by as much as 12 points, the Dyip started the third quarter strong behind Jaymar Perez and Khapri Alston to tie the score at 74-all before taking an 86-78 lead on back-to-back triples by Eric James Camson and Rashawn McCarthy.
The Batang Pier countered with a huge rally in the fourth period to come to within 97-99 but the Dyip got timely conversions from Camson to widen the lead anew to 112-103 with under two minutes left.
Perez tallied 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, Alston had double-double 25 points and 17 rebounds for the 2-1 Dyip.
Robert Bolick Jr. finished with near
triple-double 23 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the 1-2 Batang
Pier./PN
