Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 5) – The TNT Tropang Giga opened their PBA Philippine Cup title defense on a winning note as they edged the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 78-72, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams were tied at 68-all in the final 3:15 of the 2021 Philippine Cup Finals rematch, but veteran point guard Jayson Castro and forward Matt Ganuelas-Rosser delivered the clutch buckets for a TNT victory.
Castro, who finished with 16 points and six assists, converted the clutch layup and free throws that gave Tropang Giga a 75-71 lead in the last 53 seconds of the game.
PBA Mythical First Team member Calvin Abueva managed to cut their deficit in the next possession by splitting his two charity shots.
Ganuelas-Rosser, who earlier broke the 68-all deadlock with a strong finish in the paint, made his two freebies in the next play and the finishing dunk that gave the victory to the defending Philippine Cup champions. He ended up with nine points and four rebounds.
Troy Rosario paced TNT with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.
In the post-game press conference, TNT head coach Chot Reyes admitted they had to tighten up their defense after missing the services of last season’s team top scorer Mikey Williams, who bagged the Season 46 Rookie of the Year and Mythical First Team awards.
Williams and the Tropang Giga management are currently negotiating his contract with the Manny Pangilinan-owned franchise.
“The only way we can win games is to limit the production and scoring of the other team. Fortunately, that’s what happened tonight. It was very hard for us to score buckets, but we expected this,” Reyes said.
Ian Sangalang led Magnolia with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Mark Barroca added 14 markers. Abueva and Jio Jalalon contributed 12 points each for the Chito Victolero-coached squad.
The Scores:
TNT 78 – Rosario 22, Castro 16, Khobuntin 9, Pogoy 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Erram 5, Montalbo 3, Cruz 2, Reyes 2, Marcelo 2, Banal 0, Tungcab 0
MAGNOLIA 72 – Sangalang 18, Barroca 14, Jalalon 12, Abueva 12, Reavis 5, Lee 4, Wong 4, Dionisio 3, Corpuz 0, Laput 0, Dela Rosa 0
Quarterscores: 22-21, 42-42, 53-55, 78-72
