FOR A very long while, Joshua Smith and Ranidel de Ocampo were hogging the limelight for TNT KaTropa.
When it came to the crunch, however, it was Roger Pogoy who came up with the game's biggest shot, enabling the KaTropa to survive a gutsy stand by Rain or Shine and come out a 105-102 winner Sunday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Pogoy only had 10 points but his last basket, a near-triple, gave TNT a 103-101 lead and, after James Yap split his charities, De Ocampo canned two freebies of his own for the final count that stood when the E-Painters failed to launch a decent try in their final possession.
It was a sad ending for Rain or Shine.
After digging themselves an early hole and notwithstanding the ejection of import Duke Crews with still 6:51 left in the third quarter the defending champions still kept themselves in the game, but could not come up with the points that would have tide them over.
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"Expected naman iyon, with the teams battling for their placings in the quarterfinals," said TNT coach Nash Racela after his side got drawn into a scratch-and-claw affair that had six deadlocks, the last at 101-all, only 64 seconds remaining.
In the end, TNT emerged with its eighth win in 11 games, good for fourth-running spot.
But the KaTropa could still nab a top two slot, depending on the outcomes of the remaining games by the teams above them: Star, Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.
Racela is simply glad his team is assured of landing at least in the middle of the eight teams advancing to the next round and a best-of-three series in the quarterfinals, not a bottom two windup which would have meant a twice-to-win handicap against a top two squad.
"I think at this point the important thing is not to be at a twice-to-beat disadvantage," said Racela. "Lucky for us we were able to secure a best-of-three rather than a twice-to-win."
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That handicap may fall on Rain or Shine, which wound up with a 5-6 slate after its latest loss, its fourth in its last five games.
The Elasto Painters remained at sixth but could wind up in either No. 7 or No. 8, depending on how the teams below them, Alaska and GlobalPort, which both beat them and are toting 4-6 records, fare in their last game.
Yap scored 23 points, but flubbed three free throws inside the last 51 seconds that could have changed the game's complexion. Either one of the first two would have given Rain or Shine the lead.
Chan heated up late to add 18 points and Beau Belga 13 points and seven rebounds while being tasked mostly with matching up against the 6-foot-9 1/2, 304-lb Smith.
Crews could have helped if not for letting his emotions getting the better of him after he felt all the holding and bumping against him went uncalled by the game officials.
As a result, Crews incurred a technical and had to be tossed with his team down 51-60 since he was already slapped an F1 in the opening period, contributing 17 rebounds but only nine points.
Rain or Shine was far from done, however, and grittily plodded on behind Belga, Jericho Cruz, Raymond Almazan and Yap.
Smith notched 23 points and 12 rebounds while Ranidel de Ocampo added 21 points as the KaTropa refused to lose composure despite a blown 16-point lead and was able to weather a late uprising by the E-Painters.
Chan's last trey of the game even gave the E-Painters a brief taste of the lead at 98-97 and Yap's three-point play knotted the count at 101.
Earlier, Jewel Ponferrada, Don Trollano and Belga were the ones who led a sustained charge that brought them as close as 62-63.
But TNT continued to hang tough with Smith imposing his height and heft inside and RR Garcia burying two triples and Kris Rosales one as the KaTropa went into the payoff canto with a 78-71 lead.
Despite getting little production from Smith in the early goings TNT still managed to take control right in the opening quarter and kept its foot on the pedal for a 51-38 halftime lead.
The difference actually stood at 16 points thrice with De Ocampo leading the charge with 11 first half points and Troy Rosario adding 10 and six boards. Smith also bucked a 0-for-4 free throw shooting to chip in eight markers with his layup off a nifty Garcia feed making it 49-33.
Yap and Chan tried to carry the fight for Rain or Shine with eight points apiece as the likes of Cruz, Belga and Almazan could not get into any rhythm early.
Crews already hauled down 14 rebounds in the first 24 minutes of play but only seven points on 3-for-10 shooting and even got called for an F1 against Anthony Semerad in the last 26 seconds of the opening period.
