MANILA – Jayson Castro displayed his vintage form as the shorthanded TNT Tropang Giga prevailed over Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 78-72, in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup opener last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 62-66, Castro and Jeth Troy Rosario drilled back-to-back triples as the Tropang Giga took a 68-66.
The Hotshots quickly regained the edge at 69-68 on a three-point play by Ian Sangalang but Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser gave TNT the lead at 70-69 on an inside hit before Castro widened it to 75-71 with a three-point play and two free throw conversions.
After a split free throw by Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva to cut the deficit to 72-75, Ganuelas-Rosser sealed the win for TNT with a split free throw and a fastbreak dunk.
Castro finished the game with 16 points, 13 coming in the fourth quarter, while Rosario top-scored with double-double 22 points and 10 rebounds for the defending champions Tropang Giga.
Tropang Giga were shorthanded heading into the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup finals rematch with the Hotshots with the absence of Mikey Williams, Kelly Williams and Brian Heruela for various reasons.
Sangalang tallied double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds. Andy Mark Barroca added 14 markers while Abueva and Jiovani Jalalon ended with 12 points each for the Hotshots.
In the first game, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters denied newcomer Converge FiberXers a winning start in the PBA following a come-from-behind 79-77 triumph.
Down 77-75, Beau Belga drilled a stepback three-pointer to surge the Elasto Painters ahead at 78-77. After a turnover by FiberXers, Leonard Santillan iced the win for Rain or Shine with a free throw.
Santillan finished the match with 18 points and nine rebounds, Belga chipped in 17 markers, while Norbert Torres and Andrei Caracut had 10 points each for the Elasto Painters.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 78 — Rosario 22, Castro 16, Khobuntin 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, Pogoy 8, Erram 5, Montalbo 3, Reyes 2, Marcelo 2, Cruz 2, Banal 0, Tungcab 0.
MAGNOLIA 72 — Sangalang 18, Barroca 14, Jalalon 12, Abueva 12, Reavis 5, Wong 4, Lee 4, Dionisio 3, Corpuz 0, Dela Rosa 0, Laput 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 42-42, 53-55, 78-72./PN
