RR Pogoy played through a sprained ankle and best typified the desire and determination TNT Tropang Giga displayed in repulsing Phoenix Super LPG, 110-91, for win No. 4 in the PBA bubble play at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga Monday.
Trailing by as many as 14 and still behind by nine at the half, Pogoy and his teammates just willed themselves to turn things around in the final half, beating the Fuel Masters in a duel of unbeaten squads.
A game-day decision, Pogoy shrugged off his injury and even shone brightest for TNT as they stretched their perfect run following earlier wins over Alaska Milk, Terrafirma and San Miguel Beer.
Phoenix, meanwhile, suffered a first loss after a 2-0 start.
"For us coaches, he's supposed to take a rest. But the kid wanted to play. We're lucky to have a player like him, all heart," said TNT coach Bong Ravena of Pogoy.
Sponsored content: The Cebuano hotshot was driven by the desire of the team to perform well in the Philippine Cup.
"Pagod na kaming talo lagi sa all-Filipino. We want to prove kaya namin manalo dito," said Pogoy, sizzling with 30 points, including five three-pointers.
And it's not Pogoy alone.
"We moved the ball around at kung sinong libre siyang titira," said Pogoy in their big come-from-behind effort also marked by double-digit outputs from six other players in Poy Erram (7-of-12 for 18 markers), Simon Enciso (13), Bobby Ray Parks (12), Troy Rosario (11), Ryan Reyes (10) and Jayson Castro (10).
Also a big key was the Tropang Giga's defensive effort that saw them limit Phoenix star Matthew Wright to eight points after exploding for 23 in the first half.
Sponsored content: "We had a hard time in the first half, and credit to Phoenix for playing well. We're lucky to make the right adjustment in the second half. Defense pulled us through," said Ravena.
The Fuel Masters played well in the first two quarters and carried a 54-45 advantage into the final half.
But the Tropang Giga did make the stops, sparking a run on the other end of the floor as they seized control, 75-68, going into the final canto.
And there's no turning them back. (SB)
The scores:
TnT 110 - Pogoy 30, Erram 18, Enciso 13, Parks 12, Rosario 11, Reyes 10, Castro 10, De Leon 3, Washington 3, Carey 0, Alejandro 0, Semerad 0, Montalbo 0, Vosotros 0, Flores 0.
Phoenix 91 - Wright 31, Napoles 10, Perkins 8, Jazul 7, Chua 7, Reyes 6, Marcelo 5, Garcia 5, Heruela 4, Gamboa 4, Intal 4, Rios 0.
Quarters: 24-24, 45-54. 75-68, 110-91
