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[av_heading heading=’ TNT completes PBA’s Comm Cup semis cast’ 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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Saturday, June 10, 2017
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MANILA – TNT Katropa cruised to the semifinals round of the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 104-96 overtime win over Meralco Bolts in Game 3 of the best-of-three quarterfinals last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Reinforcement Joshua Smith and Jayson Castro led the way with 31 points apiece for Katropa, which will face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the best-of-five semifinals starting tomorrow.
Roger Pogoy added 13 markers while Ryan Reyes, Ranidel de Ocampo and Ryan Garcia combined for 22 points for Katropa which is eyeing to bring back the crown it failed to defend last year.
Down by as much as 14 points late in the third period following a basket from Bolts center Kelly Nabong, Katropa made its move behind Castro and Smith to come to within 73-66 heading into the fourth.
Katropa continued its run in the fourth and was able to come to within 83-82 on a basket by Kelly Williams but Bolts increased the lead to 89-88. A triple by Reyes followed by a split free throw by Castro send the match into overtime.
Katropa started the extension period with an 8-2 blast behind Smith, De Ocampo and Roger Pogoy for a 97-91 lead.
After Bolts cut the deficit to 97-94, Katropa wrapped up the game on free throws by Castro, De Ocampo and Garcia.
“I think we need to be stronger (in the semifinals). There’s a lot of time we got hit (against Meralco) that forces us to miss. We need to be stronger than that, play about those contacts,” said Katropa head coach Nash Racela.
Baser Amer top-scored with 25 points, with 17 coming in the first half, while Jared Dillinger added 20 markers for Bolts, which failed to reach the semifinals despite a strong start in the elimination round.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 104 – Smith 31, Castro 31, Pogoy 13, Reyes 8, De Ocampo 7, Garcia 7, Williams 6, Semerad 1, Rosario 0, Rosales 0, Tautuaa 0, Carey 0, Tamsi 0.
MERALCO 96 – Amer 25, Dillinger 20, Stepheson 15, Hugnatan 12, Newsome 7, Hodge 6, Caram 6, Daquioag 3, Nabong 2, Uyloan 0.
Quarterscores: 29-19, 38-43, 66-73, 89-89, 104-96./PN
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