Manila – TNT Tropang Giga escaped a fourth quarter challenge from Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters to score a 96-88 win in the 2023 PBA on Tour last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Comfortably ahead by 16 points in the second half, the Tropang Giga’s first win in the tournament nearly put in danger as the Fuel Masters launched a huge fight back to tie the score at 83-all with eight minutes left in the game.
The Tropang Giga managed to restore order as Carl Bryan Cruz connected a three-pointer while Almond Vosotros had an eight-point barrage to widen the advantage to 96-86 with under a minute remaining.
Glenn Khobuntin finished with 21 points along with seven rebounds, while Vosotros contributed 16 markers, with four three-pointers, as the Tropang Giga improved to 1-7 win-loss slate.
Cruz contributed 15 markers, Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo ended with 13 points, while Lervin Flores fell short of a double-double with 13 rebounds and nine points for the Tropang Giga.
Sean Manganti top-scored for the Fuel Masters (3-7) with 18 points, Ryan Roose Garcia and Tyler Tio added 15 points each, while Chris Lalata and Javee Mocon had 13 and 10, respectively.
In the first game, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters bucked the absence of head coach Joseller Guiao to score an 118-112 victory over NorthPort Batang Pier. The Painters stayed at second place with 7-2 slate, while the Batang Pier dropped to 5-5.
Leading by as much as 20 points, the Painters were stunned by a furious run by the Batang Pier that cut the deficit to 106-112 but back-to-back hits from Beau Belga and Mark Borboran made it a 116-106 spread for Rain or Shine.
NorthPort made its last push at 108-116 after a jump shot by Mer Jesper Ayaay but a conversion from Andrei Caracut with over a minute in the game sealed the victory for Rain or Shine.
Leonard Santillan led the Painters with 20 points, while Caracut and Anton Asistio chipped in 17 markers apiece, while Shaun Ildefonso, Gian Mamuyac, Beau Belga and Jewel Ponferrada also finished with double-digits of 14, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 96 – Khobuntin 21, Vosotros 16, Cruz 15, Montalbo 13, Flores 9, Exciminiano 6, Mendoza 5, De Leon 5, Heruela 3, Marcelo 2, Cuntapay 1, Jopia 0.
PHOENIX 88 – Manganti 18, Garcia 15, Tio 15, Lalata 13, Mocon 10, Celda 7, Camacho 6, Alejandro 2, Rangel 2, Fetalvero 0, Atienza 0.
Quarterscores: 25-24, 51-40, 81-71, 96-88./PN
