Katropa take opener

Terrence Jones runs show with 41 points

MANILA, Philippines — Welcome to the Terrence Jones Show – Finals edition.

The celebrated TNT KaTropa import did everything expected – scoring from different angles (41 points), hauling down rebounds (12), dishing off to open men (eight assists), helping out defensively (three blocks), and simply providing the energy that rubbed off on his teammates.

And riding high on his stellar showing, the KaTropa came out swinging and dealt San Miguel Beer a comprehensive 109-96 beating to gain the head start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship series last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We’re happy with his output; it’s really lifting us each and every game.  We’re happy to have him,” said TNT coach Bong Ravena of Jones, who came two dimes short of a sixth triple-double performance of the tournament.

Jones’ swashbuckling outing was complemented by the solid plays of Jayson Castro (20 points), Troy Rosario (16), RR Pogoy (13) and Don Trollano (11) and each one of the TNT player fielded in who helped hold down the SMB offensive machine.

“We came in with a great game plan, defensively not letting the shooters get any open opportunities and our guys stayed home and I think that helped us out getting defensive stops,” said Jones.

The KaTropa broke free from a tight contest with a telling 18-0 salvo sparked by Jones to take a 25-19 tear.

With Jones imposing his will against an assortment of defenders,  the KaTropa zoomed to a 55-34 spread in the second and enjoyed their biggest upperhand at 23 (78-55). 

“It’s our defensive effort, everybody was locked in and we knew how important Game 1 was. We’re focused on each quarter and just tried to win the quarter and I think breaking it down like that, trying to win the game within the game, makes it a lot easier for us,” said Jones.

Jones bested SMB’s Chris McCullough in Round 1 of the fancied duel between two NBA first-round draftees. McCullough made 33-15-3 with nine turnovers. 

“Personally, I’m a winner so the thing to do is to win. I don’t care if he scores more points than me, plays better than me, if my team ends up winning, that’s the match-up I care about. Who wins,” he said.

NOTES: Rookie sensations Ray Parks of Blackwater and CJ Perez of Columbian Dyip kept their 1-2 standing in the Best Player of the Conference derby but TNT’s Jayson Castro stayed within striking distance and can make headway in the finals…Despite their squads’ early elimination, Parks maintained his top position with his 37.2 statistical points average while Perez remained close behind with 36.1 through end of semis. Castro occupied third with 33.7 SPs after the Final Four...The KaTropa’s emphatic disposal of the Gin Kings in the semis enabled TNT’s super reinforcement Terrence Jones to overtake Ginebra counterpart Justin Brownlee in the race for Best Import honors. Jones, who made two of his five triple-double performances in the semis, vaulted to the top with 58.2, dislodging 2018 winner Brownlee (57.8).

The scores:

TNT 109 – Jones 41, Castro 20, Rosario 16, Pogoy 13, Trollano 11, Heruela 5, Reyes 3, Washington 0, Taha 0, Carey 0, Semerad D. 0, Casino 0, Magat 0.

San Miguel 96 – McCullough 33, Fajardo 23, Romeo 11, Standhardinger 10, Ross 7, Santos 5, Cabagnot 3, Pessumal 2, Zamar 2, Nabong 0.

Quarterscores: 35-19, 69-42, 87-72, 109-96