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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Monday, March 5, 2018
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KaTropa drubs Phoenix to claim last playoffs seat
MANILA – TNT KaTropa took the last quarterfinals seat in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 118-97 victory over Phoenix Fuel Masters in their knockout game last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jeth Troy Rosario led the way with 18 points. Ilonggo Jericho Cruz and Jayson Castro had 17 points each while Roger Pogoy contributed 15 points for KaTropa.
KaTropa will battle top seed and defending champion San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Beermen has a twice-to-beat edge.
Fuel Masters had a strong start on conversions by Matthew Wright and was up 19-12 before KaTropa countered with a run behind Rosario and Pogoy to take a slim 27-25 lead.
Both teams had a seesaw exchange early in the second period before KaTropa started to pull away on outside conversions by Rosario and inside field goals by Castro for a 54-49 lead at the half.
KaTropa pulled away further in the third canto with an 8-0 start behind Castro and Cruz. The lead grew further to 20 markers with conversions from Pogoy and Williams.
Fuel Masters tried to make a run in the fourth but KaTropa was quick to respond behind Anthony Semerad and Pogoy to build its largest lead 112-83 on hits by Cruz and Ryan Garcia.
“Do or die game kasi ito kaya pinaghandaan talaga namin at masaya kami na may chance pa kami,” said Castro. “Kailangan lang namin i-maintain ang focus against San Miguel.”
The best-of-three quarterfinals action begins today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Alaska Aces is taking on NLEX Road Warriors at 4:30 p.m. while Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings faces off with Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 7 p.m./PN
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