THE TNT Tropang Giga left nothing to chance as they faced an import-less Rain or Shine side, fashioning out a dominant 110-91 win in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
Cameron Oliver and his teammates shot the lights out with a 41-point explosion just in the opening period and had a relatively easy time keeping the pace to the finish, though bleeding for just 14 in the second quarter.
Jayson Castro played his first game in the mid-season conference and helped TNT to a second straight win following a 117-93 drubbing of NorthPort a week ago.
TNT improved to 2-1.
Rain or Shine suffered a second loss in a row and dropped to 2-3 while missing the services of import Steve Taylor Jr. who was placed in the league's health and safety protocols.
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Without an import, the Elasto Painters just had a tough time matching up with the Tropang Giga.
Led by Rey Nambatac with 20 points, the Elasto Painters actually had a good second quarter, allowing them to get within five, 50-55, at the half.
But there's no stopping the Tropang Giga as they launched another big 32-14 juggernaut in the third.
"We had a good first quarter but had a bad second quarter. We lost the second quarter by 16 points with our rivals without an import. And that does not speak well of us. It's a perfect reflection of where we are right now as a team," said TNT coach Chot Reyes.
"We need to play a full 48 minutes and we're not there yet. It's good Jayson was there and he injected life for us in the third quarter," Reyes added.
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As they reestablished full control in the third, Reyes had the luxury of resting his import and playing his third group in the fourth quarter.
Still, Oliver top scored with 21 points that went with eight rebounds and one assist in 29 minutes of action. Poor mark was his 5-of-11 free throws.
Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy fired 15 apiece, Jaydee Tungcab rifled in 14 and Castro chipped in 10 plus six assists and four rebounds.
"First three minutes lang, kakapagod na," said Castro in his return from an injury suffered during the Philippine Cup finals that they lost to San Miguel Beer. (SB)
The Scores:
TNT 110 - Oliver 21, Pogoy 15, Oftana 15, Tungcab 14, Castro 10, Montalbo 8, M.Williams 8, Alejandro 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 5 , Erram 4, K.Williams 2, Marcelo 2, Cruz 0.
ROS 91 - Nambatac 20, Caracut 12, Asistio 11, Santillan 11, Ildefonso 9, Belga 7, Mamuyac 4, Norwood 4, Ponferrada 4, Borboran 4, Demusis 2, Guinto 1, Nieto 1, Torres 1.
Quarters: 41-20, 55-50, 86-64, 110-91.
