MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga leaned on a huge fourth quarter breakaway to defeat NorthPort Batang Pier, 99-79, in a battle of two all-Filipino teams in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Holding to a slim 65-60 lead after three quarters, the Tropang Giga leaned on inside conversions from Barkley Ebona, John Paul Erram, and Kelly Williams to establish a 79-62 separation with over six minutes left.
Despite conversions from the Batang Pier, the Tropang Giga managed to pull away further with three-pointers from reserves Almond Vosotros and Calvin Payawal for the largest lead of 25 points.
Erram was named Player of the Game after finishing with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Tropang Giga secured the top seed in Group A with an 8-2 win-loss slate.
“We have been working on our offense during our previous practices. We struggled with our offense in the past games so we really do what we need to do to improve,” said TNT head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes.
The Tropang Giga has opted to rest their reinforcement Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with the quarterfinals seat already in the bag, while injured Venky Jois also sat out for the Batang Pier, which ended their campaign with a 3-7 win-loss slate.
Meanwhile, Blackwater Bossing bucked the absence of San Miguel Beermen import Jordan Adams to score a 111-94 victory on Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
George King spearheaded the attack with 49 points to go with 11 rebounds as the Bossing kept their quarterfinals hopes alive after improving to a 4-5 win-loss record in Group B.
“We know naman the situation before we enter the game; the guys just don’t want to give up yet, and that speaks for the character of this team,” Bossing head coach Jeffrey Cariaso said.
CJ Cansino, on the other hand, tallied 15 points, three assists, and two rebounds as Meralco Bolts walloped the shorthanded Terrafirma Dyip, 124-82, to secure a quarterfinals seat with their 8-3 win-loss slate./PN
BOX SCORE:
TNT 99 – Erram 17, Nambatac 15, Pogoy 14, Galinato 11, Williams 9, Oftana 7, Castro 6, Khobuntin 5, Ebona 4, Vosotros 3, Payawal 3, Heruela 2, Varilla 2, Exciminiano 1.
NORTHPORT 79 – Tolentino 24, Flores 18, Onwubere 7, Jalalon 6, Yu 5, Navarro 5, Amores 4, Nelle 3, Munzon 2, Taha 2, Cuntapay 2, Tratter 0, Bulanadi 0.
Quarterscores : 19-25, 43-36, 65-60, 99-79.
