MANILA – TNT KaTropa rode on Roger Pogoy’s torrid outside shooting to score a 104-96 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pogoy was on fire all-game long to finish with career-high 38 points, including 10 three-point conversions, for the KaTropa, which moved to a share of top spot with Blackwater Elite and NorthPort Batang Pier with 5-1 card.
Terrence Jones finished with triple-double 17 points, 14 rebounds and 16 assists and also has six blocks, while Jayson Castro had 17 markers, five boards, five assists and three steals for the KaTropa.
The KaTropa was already on point from the outside in the opening half with trifectas from Pogoy and Castro for a 39-28 lead. The Kings, however, countered with a run to take a 49-48 halftime edge.
The KaTropa, however, lost its shooting touch in the third period, which the Kings took advantage to take a 79-69 advantage on conversions from Justin Brownlee and Joe Devance.
TNT countered with a 12-0 blast, including five straight points from Pogoy, to take an 81-79 lead. Three outside hits from Pogoy and Celedonio Trollano and a three-point play by Jones gave KaTropa its largest lead at 104-92.
Brownlee had double-double 29 points and 17 rebounds, while LA Tenorio added 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the defending champions Kings, which dropped to 2-3.
The Batang Pier, on the other hand, recovered from a slow start to score a 102-99 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots and continue its hot start in the import-laden conference.
Down by as much as 10 points early, the Batang Pier turned things around in the second half to lead by as much as 70-54. The Hotshots mounted a fight back in the fourth at 95-98 but free throws by Sean Anthony seal the win for NorthPort.
Anthony led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists, Juan Paolo Taha had 16 markers for the Batang Pier (5-1). Ian Sangalang had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Hotshots (0-2)./PN
