Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 17) – TNT Tropang Giga were off to a rousing start in their 2021 PBA Philippine Cup campaign after beating Terrafirma Dyip, 86-79, Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The opening game victory of the Manny Pangilinan-owned squad also handed a victorious PBA return for head coach Chot Reyes, who is back as TNT’s chief tactician after nine years.
“We have just taken our first step as a team today. This is our first experience coming together to play as a team,” noted Reyes, after PBA teams failed to conduct pre-season games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four Tropang Giga players scored in double digits led by veteran guard Jayson Castro with 17 markers off the bench and slotman JP Erram with a double-double effort of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Troy Rosario also notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards, while RR Pogoy added 10 points for TNT.
Terrafirma had a solid start in the first quarter, leading 20-17, after combined efforts from Andreas Cahilig, Juami Tiongson, and Rashawn McCarthy.
TNT started to unleash their offensive arsenal in the latter part of the second frame with a 14-2 scoring run, after both squads are tied at 31 apiece in the 6:11 mark, to lead 45-33 in halftime.
The Tropang Giga continued to hold a double-digit lead during the third canto, where they also mounted their biggest lead in the 9:11 mark courtesy of a Kelly Williams layup for a 57-36 tally.
The Dyip widened their deficit to as much as five points, 79-84, late in the fourth quarter from timely offensive stops made by Tiongson and McCarthy. But TNT showed its defensive experience as they forced the two Terrafirma players to miss in the dying seconds of the game.
Aldrech Ramos led Terrafirma in a losing effort with 17 points, while McCarthy added 13. Both players are coming off the bench for the Johnedel Cardel-coached team.
The scores:
TNT (86) – Castro 17, Erram 15, Rosario 14, Pogoy 10, Marcelo 9, Williams 7, Khobuntin 6, Reyes 5, Montalbo 3
TERRAFIRMA (79) – Ramos 17, McCarthy 13, Cahilig 12, Tiongson 10, Adams 7, Laput 6, Munzon 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Alolino 2, Gabayni 2, Balagasay 2
Quarterscores: 17-20, 45-33, 71-59, 86-79
