MANILA – TNT KaTropa claimed to a share of the top spot in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 123-95 victory over Columbian Dyip last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Jeth Troy Rosario led the way with 21 points.
Terrence Romeo had 19 points while Ilonggo Jericho Cruz contributed 17 points.
With the win, the KaTropa tied Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the stop spot with a 5-1 record.
“It’s nice that we’re able to continue our winning ways. But the tougher games are ahead of us,” said KaTropa head coach Nash Racela.
He added: “It’s nice to get some wins in the first half of the eliminations but I think it is the second half that is more important.”
The KaTropa opened the match with a 14-2 run on early hits by Romeo and Cruz for a 36-17 advantage. The domination continued in the second frame as the lead swelled to 72-40 at the half capped by a half-court shot by Cruz.
With the Dyip struggles continue in the second half, the KaTropa pulled away further as the lead ballooned to as huge as 40, 117-77, after Terrence Romeo’s three-pointer with six minutes remaining in the fourth.
John Fields posted double-double 34 points and 20 rebounds while Ilonggo Ronald Tubid and Eric James Camson had 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Dyip which dropped to 3-4.
In the second game, the Meralco Bolts went back on the winning track with a 93-82 domination over the struggling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Holding to a slim 48-42 lead at the half, the Bolts started to pull away in the third period behind Chris Newsome, Arinze Onuaku and Ranidel de Ocampo to build a 73-58 advantage.
The Kings tried to make a run in the fourth quarter at 68-78 on two free throws by Mark Caguioa but the Bolts pulled away anew at 90-76 with hits from Clifford Hodge and Onuaku.
Onuaku led the way with double-double 24 points and 23 rebounds, Newsome added 22 markers for the Bolts, which improved to 4-2. The Kings dropped to 1-4 win-loss card./PN
