THANKS to a motorcycle taxi, Kelly Williams made it to the game and was able to help TNT KaTropa get past Blackwater, 92-83, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Caught in a nightmarish traffic standstill, Williams came when the game was already in progress.
But when finally tapped to play in the second half, the one-time MVP winner immediately buckled down to work, thus, helping the Texters bounce back from a loss to the San Miguel Beermen the last time out.
Williams delivered six points, six rebounds, four blocks and one assist as the Texters erased a seven-point halftime deficit and subsequently took the win that forged a heavy six-way tie at fourth place among TNT, Blackwater, NLEX, Alaska Milk, Phoenix Fuel, Rain or Shine at 2-2.
RR Pogoy took charge early on before Jayson Castro took over at endgame as the Texters kept a perfect slate (10-0) in their head-on duels with the Ever Bilena franchise.
Sponsored content: "Going to this game, we knew that we're going to have a hard time against Blackwater. We knew it's not going to be easy. Good thing, our shots started to fall in the second half," said TNT coach Nash Racela.
"My rotation messed up in the first half. Good thing, we're able to recover in the second half," Racela also said.
The absence of Williams early on threw Racela off balanced.
"Buti nakahabol. Nag-Habal-Habal daw," said the TNT bench chieftain.
With the Texters' preparation put in disarray, the Elite took control in the first half, leading 43-36, at the turn.
Sponsored content: Poy Erram scored 20 points while Mike Cortez fired 14, and were the big keys in Blackwater's charge early on.
But as Racela got to his usual rotation, the Texters got into the groove and surged ahead, 65-57, at the end of the third quarter.
They finished off the Elite on a three-point play by Castro making it 88-79 with time down to 1:04.
Pogoy led all scorers with 24 points that went with eight rebounds, three assists and three steals against three turnovers.
Castro collected 17 markers, five boards, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
The scores:
TNT 92 - Pogoy 24, Castro 17, Garcia 12, Semerad 11, Rosario 9, Williams 6, Tautuaa 6, Torres 5, Reyes 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Golla 0.
BLACKWATER 83 - Erram 20, Cortez 14, Digregorio 9, Belo 9, Maliksi 9, Jose 7, Sumang 5, Marcelo 4, Sena 4, Pinto 2, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 15-16, 36-43, 65-57, 92-83.
