TNT hangs on; Dyip on the verge

MANILA, Philippines — TNT KaTropa hung on in the fight for the Top Two while pushing Columbian Dyip on the brink of elimination in fashioning out a 101-98 escape win in their crucial setto in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

The KaTropa used tremendous advantages in three-point shooting and defensive stoppages as they stretched their hot streak to five games and closed in further on Rain or Shine (8-3) with their seventh win in all against three losses.

Coach Bong Ravena and his troops seek a piece of second place in their closing game in the elims versus the NorthPort Batang Pier Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In case of a tie with the Elasto Painters, the KaTropa clinch the coveted twice-to-beat bonus on the quarterfinals on the strength of the winner-over-the-other rule.

But if Barangay Ginebra makes it a three-way tie with ROS and TNT, the Gin Kings secure the quarters incentive on account of a superior quotient.

“We’ll try to take care of what’s in our control and we’ll accept wherever it brings us,” said the TNT coach.

Meanwhile, Columbian stayed outside the Magic Eight with a 4-7 closing card in the elims.

The Dyip gain a share of eighth place only in case at least one among the Alaska Milk Aces, the NLEX Road Warriors and the Magnolia Hotshots drop all their remaining games.

Governors Cup champ Magnolia sustained its own charge, repulsing Blackwater, 97-87, to move up to solo sixth place at 5-5 later in the night.

Rome dela Rosa, Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Rodney Brondial and Mark Barroca all put in double-digit outputs as the Hotshots assured themselves of at least a playoff for the eighth and last quarters slot.

Blackwater ended its 2019 all-Filipino tourney with just two wins against nine losses.

The scores: 

First Game

TNT 101 – Castro 20, Reyes 19, Rosario 19, Pogoy 14, Williams 12, Heruela 8, Taha 4, Carey 2, Semerad 2, Washington 1, Cruz 0, Trollano 0, Miranda 0.

Columbian 98 – Perez 22, McCarthy 17, Camson 14, Corpuz 13, Calvo 13, Khobuntin 11, Faundo 4, Reyes 3, Celda 2, Cabrera 0, Escoto 0, Cahilig 0.

Quarterscores: 20-19, 47-37, 80-67, 101-98

Second Game

Magnolia 97 – Dela Rosa 17, Lee 16, Sangalang 16, Reavis 11, Barroca 11, Brondial 10, Melton 9, Jalalon 4, Ramos 3, Simon 0, Gamalinda 0, Pascual 0, Abundo 0.

Blackwater 87 – Maliksi 16, Belo 16, Dario 11, Eriobu 10, Al-Hussaini 9, Tratter 8, Banal 7, Digregorio 4, Sena 3, Desiderio 3, Sumang 0, Javier 0.

Quarterscores: 20-20, 49-41, 68-61, 97-87