MANILA – TNT KaTropa drew first blood in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals with a 103-94 Game 1 victory over Meralco Bolts last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
KJ McDaniels posted double-double 38 points and 14 rebounds while Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro added 18 and 17 markers, respectively.
The Bolts dictated the tempo early. They surged to a 13-7 start but it was quickly erased by the KaTropa to take a 17-15 edge. A rally by Meralco gave them a 25-22 lead.
The Bolts were still ahead at 32-30 in the second period when the KaTropa banked on the exploits of McDaniels, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Michael Digregorio for a 47-41 halftime edge.
The KaTropa sustained its rally in the third period with triples from Pogoy and inside conversions from McDaniels and Troy Rosario to establish a 77-61 advantage.
TNT went on to build its largest lead at 88-67 on a free throw by McDaniels but the Bolts went for a late rally but could only come to as close as nine points.
Allen Durham tallied 32 points and 21 rebounds as Chris Newsome added 14 for the Bolts./PN
