MANILA – TNT KaTropa overhauled an early deficit in the second half to score a 109-102 victory over the Columbian Dyip in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Terrence Jones led the way with 39 points, 17 rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists.
Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy added 22 and 16 markers, respectively.
With the win, the KaTropa, surged to solo first place with a 7-1 card.
The Dyip got its shooting going early and went up 27-19 but the KaTropa leaned on inside hits by Jones to take a 41-35 advantage.
The Dyip answered with another run to come to within 50-51 at the half.
Columbian waxed hot early in the third period and built its largest lead at eight points. The TNT, however, quickly erased it behind baskets from Castro and Pogoy to take a 73-71 lead.
KaTropa broke away in the fourth quarter behind locals Jeth Troy Rosario and Yousef Taha to take an 82-75 edge. Dyip cut it to 78-82 before TNT came up with a finishing run behind Jones and Castro for its largest lead of 11 points.
“We started the game slow. We were struggling. Give credit to Columbian for giving us a hard time. They are young. We were having a hard time sa mga wing nila. Good thing we came back in the second half,” said KaTropa head coach Bong Ravena.
For the Dyip, which dropped to 1-5, Lester Prosper finished with double-double 37 points and 20 rebounds while Jaymar Perez added 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
In the second game, San Miguel Beermen leaned on its torrid outside shooting in the second quarter to score a 119-107 victory over the Alaska Aces and to get back on the winning track.
Holding to a slim 29-27 lead after the first 12 minutes, the Beermen converted consecutive treys in the second period for a 65-41 lead before going up to as high as 28 points in the second half.
Alex Cabagnot waxed hot with 31 points, including four triples, while Charles Rhodes and Marcio Lassiter had 23 markers each for the Beermen (2-3).
Chris Banchero finished with 26 points for the Aces (4-4)./PN
