Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 18) – The TNT Tropang Giga asserted their dominance against defending Governors’ Cup champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 119-92, on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Talented rookie Mikey Williams led again the Tropang Giga in scoring with 26 points, while veteran guard Ryan Reyes showed his vintage form with 24 markers and only missed one of his nine field goals in the game.
According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, Reyes became the oldest player in history to shoot eight three-point shots in a game, also a career-high for the 38-year-old cager. His 24-point outing is also his highest output over the past six seasons.
TNT dictated the tempo of the game early in the first half, but it was in the second half where it broke away and held a double-digit lead over its corporate rival.
The defending Philippine Cup champions led by as much as 30 points in the last minute of the contest as the Tropang Giga finished with a superior 56% shooting off the field than the Gin Kings’ measly 39% tally.
Reyes also led the bench attack for TNT with a total of 45 points compared to Ginebra’s 15.
TNT head coach Chot Reyes said their big offensive plays in the second half were a way to show their aggressiveness on the floor and to prevent Ginebra from coming back in the game, a known trait of the defending Governors’ Cup titlists through the years.
“We were fortunate to counter those adjustments and well, we shut the lights out,” said Reyes, who improved their record to 4-4.
Justin Brownlee led Ginebra in a losing effort with 25 points and nine rebounds while Japeth Aguilar came up with 18 points as the crowd favorite squad fell to a 3-3 slate.
The Scores:
TNT 119 – M. Williams 26, Reyes 24, Castro 18, Fuller 13, Montalbo 9, Khobuntin 9, Banal 5, Rosario 4, Heruela 4, Marcelo 3, K.Williams 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Cruz 0, Erram 0
GINEBRA 92 – Brownlee 25, J. Aguilar 18, Standhardinger 16, Thompson 11, Tolentino 9, Tenorio 5, Pinto 4, Chan 2, Caperal 1, Enriquez 1, Ayaay 0
Quarterscores: 34-28, 60-53, 94-74, 119-92
