MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga displayed its offensive firepower from start to finish and defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 106-92, in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Roger Pogoy waxed hot with 30 points, more than half coming in the first half. Mikey Williams drilled five triples for 19 markers as the defending champions Tropang Giga ended the eliminations at 8-3 slate.
Glenn Khobuntin contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, while Kelly Williams and Bacolodnon Kib Montalbo also hit double figures on offense with 12 and 10, respectively, for TNT.
From a close game midway in the opening quarter, Pogoy unloaded 10 consecutive points to give Tropang Giga a 27-23 lead. He connived with Mikey in the second period for a 54-46 halftime lead.
The Kings attempted to come close several times in the second half but timely conversions from Mikey and Khobuntin widened the Tropang Giga’s lead to its largest at 24 points in the fourth period.
Japeth Aguilar top-scored with 18 points. Christian Standhardinger and LA Tenorio added 15 markers apiece, while Arvin Tolentino and Earl Scottie Thompson had 14 and 13, respectively, as the Kings dropped to 6-2.
In the first game, Moala Tautuaa came up with crucial conversions in the overtime period as the San Miguel Beermen (8-1) escaped with a 110-107 victory over Blackwater Bossing (5-2).
The Filipino-Tongan big man connived with June Mar Fajardo and Jaymar Perez in a 5-0 scoring blast to start the extension period as the Beermen surged to a 102-97 advantage.
Tautuaa came up with four more points to maintain a 106-101 San Miguel Beer lead but back-to-back treys by Blackwater’s Baser Amer and Javee Casio cut the deficit to 107-108.
Fajardo widened the Beermen’s lead to 110-107 with two free throws in the final three seconds before Bossing’s Rashawn McCarthy airballed his three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Tautuaa finished the match 17 points, six in the overtime period, Fajardo and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz tallied with 25 markers apiece, while Perez contributed 23 markers for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 106 – Pogoy 30, M. Williams 19, Khobuntin 16, K. Williams 12, Montalbo 10, Erram 9, Cruz 7, Castro 3, Marcelo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
GINEBRA 92 – J. Aguilar 18, Tenorio 15, Standhardinger 15, Tolentino 14, Thompson 13, Pringle 7, Chan 5, Mariano 3, Pinto 2, David 0, Caperal 0, Salado 0.
Quarterscores: 27-23, 54-46, 78-65, 106-92./PN
