Castro back in form, powers TnT

MANILA, Philippines - Jayson Castro summoned his old lethal form in his return from a long layoff while Moala Tautuaa finally churned out a productive performance as TNT KaTropa stopped Blackwater’s winning start in the season with a 99-92 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Castro and Tautuaa scored 20 points each, with Ranidel de Ocampo adding 15 markers, including 10 in the final quarter as the Texters chalked up a second straight win and caught up with the Elite at 2-1.

Blackwater drew another solid game from top rookie Mac Belo with 21 points and nine rebounds but the Elite just couldn’t keep up with the Texters, who pressed their bid in the second quarter and onwards.

“Before the game, we talked about what we wanted to build moving forward. We didn’t start the way we wanted to, and we got going only when coach Nash (Racela) got mad,” said interim TNT coach Josh Reyes. 

“We had focus issues throughout the game. We got mistakes that we didn’t want happening. Good thing, it’s too early in the season. Finally, coach Nash will be with us full time. Hopefully, it speeds up things in the new era in TNT basketball,” Reyes also said.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk, the title protagonists in the last Philippine Cup, clash in the mainer of a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Big Dome tonight.

NLEX shoots for a second straight win while Meralco looks to bounce back from a losing season debut as they slug it out in the 3 p.m. opener.

Castro, Tautuaa, Larry Fonacier and Matt Ganuelas Rosser joined forces as they ignited a decisive run in the second quarter, stopping Blackwater’s early surge.

The Texters wiped out a nine-point first quarter deficit, built a 13-point lead early in the fourth and made key stops in the end to score a follow-up to their 108-103 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings the last time out.

“It’s not the prettiest game for us, but this will serve as a learning experience for us,” said Reyes.

“Despite our thorough scouting, Belo scored 21 points and it says a lot. That’s the caliber of Belo,” Reyes also said of the Blackwater rookie whom he and Racela had handled at FEU.

For the third game in a row, Belo top scored for the Elite with 21 points spiked by 3-of-5 three-point shooting.

Blackwater kept the game close while drawing double-digit outputs from John Pinto, Kyle Pascual, Art dela Cruz and Reil Cervantes.

Globalport star guards Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo showed up their Star counterparts and led the Batang Pier to a 91-84 triumph over the Hotshots in the nightcap.

“Yes, we got the upper hand in guards competition,” said GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren after the win that carried the team to the top in a tie with Rain or Shine at 2-0.

Pringle sizzled with 24 points, three rebounds and two assists while Romeo frolicked with 18 markers, eight boards and two feeds as they reprised their stellar roles in their 97-75 win over the Mahindra Floodbuster in their season debut.

NOTES: The PBA and the Philippine Arena management have sealed an agreement for the holding of the PBA Christmas Day special in the huge playing venue in Bocaue, Bulacan. It’s Barangay Ginebra versus Star in the 5:15 p.m. mainer in the league’s second visit to the Philippine Arena after the 2014 season inaugurals that drew a record crowd of 52,612.

The scores:

First Game

TNT 99 – Tautuaa 20, Castro 20, De Ocampo 15, Fonacier 11, Rosario 8, Rosser 8, Carey 5, Reyes 5, Williams 4, Pogoy 3, Hernandez 0, Rosales 0, Golla 0.

Blackwater 92 – Belo 21, K. Pascual 14, Pinto 14, Dela Cruz 12, Cervantes 10, Miranda 5, Ababou 4, Aguilar 4, Buenafe 4, Sena 4, Banal 0, R. Pascual 0, Forrester 0.

Quarterscores: 21-30, 50-46, 76-67, 99-92

Second Game

GLOBALPORT 91 – Pringle 24, Romeo 18, Canaleta 12, Mamaril 8, Pennisi 8, Quiñahan 6, Aban 6, Cortez 4, Pessumal 3, Semerad 2, Maierhofer 0, Dehesa 0.

STAR 84 – Pingris 19, Ramos 18, Jalalon 13, Lee 9, Simon 8, Barroca 6, Brondial 3, Melton 3, Reavis 3, Maliksi 2, Sangalang 0.

Quarterscores: 29-8, 47-32, 67-58, 91-84