Texters jolt powerless Bolts; Kings fall

MANILA, Philippines — Troy Rosario delivered his best game in the season a day after turning 26, going 4-of-4 from the arc to touch off a sterling double-double performance as TNT KaTropa blasted Meralco, 99-81, to close in on the frontrunners in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

Rosario sizzled with a 6-of-10 three-point shooting in all and joined RR Pogoy in a dunking spree towards the end for an emphatic finish in their 18-point conquest of the undermanned, under-sized and underdog rival Meralco.

Jayson Castro, RR Garcia, Ryan Reyes, Harvey Carey and Levi Hernandez also hit from afar as the Texters collected a season-best 18 treys to highlight their third win in five games.

Before the game, the Texters were the second-worst in three-point shooting, making only nine conversions an outing.

The Texters also struck hard on fastbreak plays in complete domination of the Bolts whom they handed a third straight loss after a triumphant season debut versus the Blackwater Elite.

“We knew going to this game that Meralco was undermanned. We knew they lacked people going to this game, and we just took advantage of that,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.

“From start to end, our intensity level was kind of consistent. Kung bumaba man, konting-konti lang. And that’s our goal, to be consistent on things we want to do,” Racela also said.

Rosario towed the team with 22 points, 10 rebounds and one assist against two turnovers in 34 minutes of action.

The former NU standout frolicked from the get-go, converting 4-of-4 treys in their swashbuckling 16-3 start in the one-sided contest.

And doing a goob job on both ends of the court, the Texters stayed in full control all night long.

“(Troy) had a nice shooting while celebrating a birthday. But it won’t be his birthday every day. He needs to shoot well every day. That’s the way to be consistent,” said Racela.

Alaska Milk kept in step with TNT KaTropa at 3-2 as the Aces, behind a relentless pressing and running game, warded off a Greg Slaughter-less Barangay Ginebra side, 97-83, later in the night.

“Sometimes you have to take advantage of the opportunity that comes your way. Two No. 1 picks in the other team didn’t play,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton, referring to Slaughter who’s nursing a strained hamstring and Joe Devance who’s still recovering from a foot surgery.