ROGER Pogoy let San Miguel Beer pay the price for playing zone against TnT Katropa.
The third-year gunner drained five three-pointers to punish San Miguel's defense and give TnT Katropa a 115-105 win in Game Three of the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pogoy finished with a third career-best 29 points, had eight rebounds, and two assists in the win that regained for TnT the lead in the best-of-seven title series, 2-1.
But the Cebuano guard said it was not only his outside shooting, but that of the entire Katropa as well that really disrupted the zone of the Beermen.
In all, TnT hit 15-of-38 (39 percent) from three-point range, with import Terrence Jones firing 5-of-9 and Don Trollano draining 3-of-7.
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"Importante talaga yung three-point shooting namin para (ma-counter) yung zone nila. Kasi kung hindi kami maka-shoot sa labas, puro zona na lang sila all the way, so ang hirap," said Pogoy, who shot 10-of-19 overall from the field.
The zone was not only a challenge for him but for the entire team to shoot well from the outside.
"Pati sa lahat challenge talaga yun, kasi ang hirap pag naka-zone sila, ang lalaki pa naman nila," said Pogoy of the Beermen.
In a way, it was also Pogoy's way of making up for a lackluster performance he had in Game 2, who despite a 17-point performance, was just 1-of-6 from three-point range in the 127-125 double overtime loss.
"Nalilibre lang ako kasi nung Game 2 ang pangit ng shooting ko," he said. "Timing lang talaga."
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That the Katropa had their minds focused on just playing the game instead of concerning themselves with the physicality and the calls of game officials, helped them overcome a slow start that saw the team rallied back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter.
"Yan palagi ang sinasabi ng mga coaches namin na sila na bahala sa mga ganung bagay lalo na sa mga referees," he said. "Sabi nila focus lang sa game at huwag na kayong magpadala."
The finals resumes on Sunday with Game 4 to be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.(RG)
