Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 18) – The TNT Tropang Giga finished their 2021 PBA Philippine Cup campaign as the top squad in the 12-team field after routing the Alaska Aces, 103-85, Saturday at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
With the victory, the Chot Reyes-coached squad finished with a 10-1 record to earn the no.1 seed and the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs, regardless of the outcome of the other teams’ remaining games. They only dropped a game at the hands of league powerhouse San Miguel Beermen last Sept. 8.
RR Pogoy topscored for the Tropang Giga with 18 points, followed by big man JP Erram, who finished with 17 markers and eight rebounds.
TNT showed their dominance against Alaska, which played in second of their three straight games in the same number of days, with Erram and JJ Alejandro providing the scoring cudgels.
The Tropang Giga widened their lead in the second quarter to as high as 19 points for a 49-37 advantage at halftime.
In the third quarter, Maverick Ahanmisi and Abu Tratter led the Alaska fightback for a one-possession deficit, 48-51. But Erram, Pogoy, and super rookie Mikey Williams spearheaded a scoring run for TNT to maintain a 12-point lead after the third, 68-56.
It was all Tropang Giga in the fourth quarter as the top PBA team displayed a balanced offensive and defensive attack to send Alaska into a 3-5 record.
“In our minds, we ended our first half (of games). We really need to prepare for a tough second half (playoff games),” Reyes said.
Tratter paced the Alaska offense with 12 points and nine rebounds while JV Casio added 11.
The Scores:
TNT 103 – Pogoy 18, Erram 17, M. Williams 12, K. Williams 12, Alejandro 11, Reyes 9, Marcelo 7, Rosario 5, Exciminiano 3, Mendoza 3, Heruela 2, Castro 2, Javier 2
ALASKA 85 – Tratter 12, Casio 11, Marcelino 9, Banal 9, DiGregorio 8, Brondial 8, Browne 7, Ahanmisi 5, Herndon 5, Adamos 4, Teng 4, Ebona 3, Stockton 0, Publico 0
Quarterscores: 22-15, 49-37, 68-56, 103-85
