MANILA – TNT Tropang 5G stretched their winning run in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 94-70 rout over shorthanded NorthPort Batang Pier over the weekend at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Almond Vosotros provided instant impact off the bench with 12 points, built on four three-pointers, to be named Player of the Game as the Tropang 5G notched their fifth straight win for a 5-3 record.
“Opportunity is still opportunity,” Vosotros said in a post-game interview. “I am just thankful to the coaching staff for giving me a second chance to play again for this team.”
Calvin Oftana led the way with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Roger Pogoy added 13 markers, while Kelly Williams, Simon Enciso and John Paul Erram finished with 11 points apiece for TNT.
From a slim 20-18 lead after the opening quarter, the Tropang 5G broke away in the second period, outscoring the Batang Pier at 32-14, to establish a 52-32 lead at the half.
The Batang Pier showed some life in the third period as they cut the deficit to 43-57, but the Tropang 5G regained their offense to widen the lead anew to its largest at points.
Joshua Munzon tallied 20 points and four rebounds to lead the Batang Pier, who suffered their seventh straight loss to drop to a 1-7 record.
The Batang Pier were without star players Arvin Tolentino, who recently signed with the Seoul SK Knights, and William Navarro, who they recently traded to the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots.
Calvin Abueva, whom the Batang Pier acquired in exchange for Navarro, has yet to appear in team practices since the trade, according to NorthPort head coach Bonnie Tan./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 94 – Oftana 15, Pogoy 13, Vosotros 12, Erram 11, Enciso 11, Williams 11, Aurin 7, Ganuelas-Rosser 5, Khobuntin 4, Heruela 4, Ebona 1, Varilla 0, Payawal 0, Exciminiano 0.
NORTHPORT 70 – Munzon 20, Flores 9, Balanza 9, Cuntapay 7, Bulanadi 5, Jalalon 5, Onwubere 4, Yu 4, Nelle 3, Kwekuteye 2, Nava 2, Taha 0.
Quarterscores: 20-18, 52-32, 70-49, 94-70.
