TNT holds off Alaska, shares lead

Game today (Quezon Convention Center, Lucena)

5 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs Meralco Bolts
 

MANILA, Philippines - Jayson Castro delivered the big blows once again as TNT Katropa eked out a grind-out 120-118 victory over Alaska to gain a share of the lead in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Castro rifled in 26 points, issued 10 assists, and had five steals in a brilliant all-around performance that helped TNT secure its third straight triumph and catch up with idle pacesetter Mahindra Enforcer.

The hard-fighting Aces, who were led by Ladonthae Henton’s 35, slipped to 1-2.

With Castro scoring, stealing and feeding his teammates like Ranidel de Ocampo and Ryan Reyes, the Katropa made a searing run spiked by seven triples in the final canto to seize a 118-112 cushion with 21.1 seconds left.

Alaska wouldn’t roll over and die though. Dondon Hontiveros let loose two booming treys sandwiching a Mike Madanly split as the Aces closed in at 118-119 with 3.2 ticks left.

The Aces sent Castro to the line and the TNT stalwart made the back end of his charities for a two-point breathing room. Chris Banchero managed to send his long inbound pass to Henton near center court but the Alaska import couldn’t launch a decent shot as time expired.

In the first game, Rain or  Shine staved off Blackwater Elite’s furious fourth-quarter uprising to post a 98-92 victory and hike its record to 2-1.

With an ailing import Dior Lowhorn spending the crucial stretch of the fourth on the bench, Jericho Cruz and JR Quiñahan took charge and hit clutch baskets to enable the Elasto Painters to restore order after squandering a 12-point tear.

Blackwater dropped to 1-2.

“It’s another hard game; there are no easy games anymore and we’ll work very hard to get a win,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “Before the game, we knew we were gonna play a close game.”

Their lead down to three, Quiñahan drew a foul on Eric Dawson while attempting a three-point shot and calmly sank the three freebies to give RoS more breathing room, 96-90. After a miss by Reil Cervantes on the other end, Cruz connected on a deuce to make it a 98-90 game with 15 seconds left.

Lowhorn felt ill and asked that he be relieved in the latter part of the fourth.

“Wala siyang injury, sabi niya (He told me) I feel weird, I feel cold, parang nag-tighten up yung muscle niya. We don’t know what’s wrong with him but I don’t think it’s anything serious, he might just be dehydrated or had low electrolytes,” said Guiao.

Lowhorn finished with 20 to go with 12 rebounds to lead RoS. Jeff Chan also shot 20 spiked by four triples while Paul Lee added 14 markers plus five assists and Quiñahan finished with 11.

Carlo Lastimosa led the way for Blackwater with 20, doing the most damage in their fourth quarter rally, even as Dawson grabbed 25 rebounds with his 14 markers and JP Erram chipped in 16.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Meralco – two teams in a heavy logjam at third with 2-1 – seek to move up the rungs when they collide in Lucena City today.

The scores:

First Game

RAIN OR SHINE 98 – Chan 20, Lowhorn 20, Lee 14, Quiñahan 11, Cruz 9, Ponferada 6, Ahanmisi 5, Almazan 5, Belga 4, Norwood 4, Matias 0, Nimes 0.

BLACKWATER 92 – Lastimosa 20, Erram 16, Cervantes 15, Dawson 14, Cortez 10, Sumang 8, Pascual 5, Gamalinda 4, Canada 0, Dela Cruz 0, Qahwash 0, Sena 0.

Quarterscores: 29-21, 52-43, 73-68, 98-92.

Second game

TNT KATROPA 120 – Castro 26, Tautuaa 18, De Ocampo 17, Madanly 15, Reyes R. 15, Little 12, Rosales 9, Carey 5, Nuyles 2, Fonacier 1, Rosario 0, Williams 0, Seigle 0. 

 ALASKA 118 – Henton 35, Hontiveros 22, Jazul 19, Banchero 18, Racal 7, Casio 5, Manuel 5, Dela Rosa 4, Baclao 3, Exciminiano 0, Menk 0, Thoss 0.

 Quarterscores: 22-23, 45-55, 82-86, 120-118