MANILA – John Paul Erram came up with crucial hits in the overtime and TNT Tropang Giga pulled off an 89-85 escape over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Down 80-78 early in the extension period, Erram attacked the basket to tie the score at 80-all before the Painters surged to an 83-80 lead on a conversion by Leonard Santillan and a free throw by Beau Belga.
Mikey Williams stepped in to tie the score at 83-all with a three-pointer from top of the key before Erram surged the Tropang Giga ahead at 85-all on a putback.
Rain or Shine tied the score for the last time at 85-all with split free throws before Erram gave the lead to TNT anew with another putback. Jayson Castro later sealed the win for Tropang Giga with two freebies.
Erram finished the game with double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds as the defending champions Tropang Giga scored back-to-back wins to improve to 4-2 slate.
Jeth Troy Rosario top-scored for the Tropang Giga with 19 points, Williams added 15 markers, while Castro and Roger Pogoy ended up with 12 markers apiece.
Mike Nieto led the way with 19 points, Gian Mamuyac had career-high 18 markers, while Santillan and Rey Nambatac had 17 and 16 markers, respectively, as the Painters slumped to 1-4.
In the first game, Meralco Bolts returned to its winning ways with a 97-87 domination over the slumping NorthPort Batang Pier for a joint second place in the standings with 3-1 slate.
The Bolts were dominant from the start as they established a 56-37 lead at the half before widening it further to its largest at 27 markers via back-to-back triples by Black.
Black returned from one-game injury absence to lead the way with 20 points, while Chris Banchero and Allein Maliksi contributed 16 markers apiece for the Bolts.
Negrenses big men Reynel Hugnatan added 11 markers, while Raymar Jose contributed nine points and 13 rebounds as they took the place of Raymond Almazan, who missed the game due to health and safety protocols.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 89 – Rosario 19, M. Williams 15, Erram 13, Pogoy 12, Castro 12, Khobuntin 5, K. Williams 4, Alejandro 4, Tungcab 3, Cruz 2, Marcelo 0, Heruela 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Banal 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 85 – Nieto 19, Mamuyac 18, Santillan 17, Nambatac 16, Torres 6, Belga 5, Norwood 2, Demusis 2, Caracut 0, Borboran 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 37-40, 51-62, 78-78, 89-85/PN
