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[av_heading heading=’Katropa trips GlobalPort to inch closer to quarters seat’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, February 5, 2017
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GlobalPort Batang Pier titan Mick Pennisi (2nd from left) and Stanley Pringle (rightmost) hound TNT Katropa center Jeth Troy Rosario (center) during their 2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals match on Saturday.PBA
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MANILA – The TNT Katropa leaned on Jayson Castro’s second half exploit to score a 109-101 win over the GlobalPort Batang Pier in Game 1 of the 2016-2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Castro led the way with 20 points, with 13 coming in the second half, for the Katropa, which can clinch the semifinals seat with a win over the Batang Pier in Game 2 on Monday.
Larry Fonacier and Moala Tautuaa chipped in 17 points apiece, while Jeth Troy Rosario and Matthew Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Katropa.
Trailing by as much as 12 points in the first frame, the Katropa leaned on the exploits of Castro and Fonacier to tie the score at 54-all. The Katropa then surged to a 61-56 halftime lead on a triple by Fonacier and free throws by Ranidel de Ocampo.
TNT continued its run in the third quarter to widen the lead to 81-66 on consecutive points by Castro. It later grew to its largest at 86-68 on a three-point play by Tautuaa.
The Batang Pier answered with a rally early in the final frame to come to within 96-87 on triples by Rommel Niño Canaleta and Terrence Romeo. But the Katropa increased the lead anew to 104-89 on a triple by Castro.
Romeo top-scored with 28 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Stanley Pringle added 19 markers for the Batang Pier, which hopes to duplicate its semifinals finish last season.
Meanwhile, action resumes today at Ynares Center in Antipolo City with twice-to-beat bearing San Miguel Beermen and Alaska Aces facing the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, respectively. First game starts at 4:30 p.m./PN
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