Tropang Giga, E-Painters stay perfect

MANILA, Philippines — The TNT juggernaut in the PBA bubble continued, and this time, the Tropang Giga claimed the scalp of defending champion San Miguel Beer.

Drawing a career performance from pre-season trade acquisition Poy Erram and stellar plays from the usual suspects, the Tropang Giga walloped the Beermen, 107-88, to race to a leading 3-0 slate in the Philippine Cup last night.

The Beermen suffered their second straight setback at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City for 1-2 overall, their cause hampered by the loss of Terrence Romeo to a shoulder injury in the first half.

Erram, settling in with TNT after a so-so debut last Sunday, banged in a career-high 27 points spiked by a 9-of-9 two-point shooting and 10-of-16 overall. He also grabbed 15 rebounds in a dominant inside game against foul-riddled Mo Tautuaa.

Bobby Ray Parks followed up his 40-point performance with a 22 laced by four triples while Troy Rosario chipped in 16-8 and RR Pogoy, who sizzled with 45 last Sunday, shot 15 before limping out on an ankle sprain.

Sustaining the momentum from its upset of champ San Miguel, Rain or Shine scored a follow-up 91-82 victory over TerraFirma Dyip early in the night.

Rey Nambatac, one of the heroes in their 87-84 reversal over the Beermen, took scoring cudgels with 19 in a balanced assault that propelled the E-Painters to a 2-0 card.

Javee Mocon (with 14 points and 10 rebounds), Beau Belga (14-8) and Gabe Norwood (14-6-4) logged solid numbers as well for ROS.