Tropa, Hotshots deliver first blow

MANILA, Philippines — Top seed TNT survived the furious endgame rally of No. 4 San Miguel Beer to eke out an 89-88 verdict and get the head start in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series yesterday in Bacolor, Pampanga.

RR Pogoy rifled in a conference-best 23 points topped off by a clutch basket with 1:34 left that gave the Tropang Giga a five-point cushion that proved enough to give them the opening win.

Third seed Magnolia also went one-up after outduelling the second-seeded Meralco Bolts in an intense, physical Game 1, 88-79.

The Tropang Giga pulled this off with veteran big man Kelly Williams out due to health protocols and frontliners Dave Marcelo and Poy Erram saddled with foul woes against June Mar Fajardo and company.

“It was just all effort. I think the key was us believing we could win despite the absence of Kelly. The guys believed and it showed in the way they played tonight,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes, whose squad actually outscored SMB inside the paint, 50-42, and had seven more second-chance points with 13 markers despite the handicap.

TNT held an 81-71 edge at the 6:23 mark of the fourth before SMB made a serious run for it.

With the Tropang Giga up at 89-84, CJ Perez hit back-to-back buckets to put the Beermen to within a point. Pogoy missed what could have been the dagger trey but TNT sealed it by defending well against Marcio Lassiter’s potential game-winner.

“We told the team to challenge whatever shot SMB took and what’s important was to have five guys to rebound,” said Reyes. “This is the deepest, most talented team in the league and it will take our best to have a chance against them.”

Jayson Castro chipped in 16 with six rebounds and six assists while Erram and Troy Rosario added 15 and 14, respectively, for TNT.

Earlier, the Hotshots unleashed a strong finishing kick, 27-15, to break away from the Bolts and gain the head start in their own race-to-four showdown.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero lauded his charges for putting in the work all the way through, avoiding a repeat of their fourth-quarter meltdown in their 94-95 loss to Meralco in the elims.

“We learned from our game last time where we only played for 46 minutes. Dito we played hard for 48 minutes. Even though we’re up by 12, we kept pressing the ball because we know they can come back,” said Victolero.

“Ang gusto namin is to finish the game hard,” he added.

The Hotshots wiped out a six-point deficit early in the fourth with a searing surge ignited by foul-riddled Calvin Abueva.

Returning to action despite nursing five fouls, Abueva made a split and a three-pointer to touch things off.

then Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca joined the fray to complete the turnaround.

Sangalang led all scorers with 18 with Lee adding 17. Abueva fired 13 in only 20 minutes of play, shooting eight in the final canto.

“Sabi ni Ian noong start ng fourth, ‘atin ito.’ We believed in that. We stayed together, we worked hard and nakuha namin itong Game 1,” said Victolero.

Bong Quinto topscored for Meralco with 14.