HUMBLED its last time out, TNT bounced right back in a big way by trouncing hapless Phoenix, 106-70, Friday and get back into the top mix in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Tropang Giga fully got going as early as the second period and sustained their drive the rest of the way to even lead by as many as 96-56 before cruising to themed-season conference's biggest winning margin thus far.
The win, TNT's seventh in 10 games, not only erased the stigma of a 108-117 loss to erstwhile winless Terrafirma last Wednesday, but also put it in the company of idle Meralco and Hong Kong Eastern at third-running spot.
Victories over San Miguel Beer on Sunday and Rain or Shine at eliminations' end on Jan. 31 and the Tropa would surely vie for a top two spot and its win-once advantage over a lower-ranked team in the quarterfinals.
For winning coach Chot Reyes, the lessons learned from that loss to Terrafirma served them in good stead. "We talked about this the last game. It's really hard to go up against teams with nothing to lose," he said.
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"We saw how Terrafirma played the last game. They were playing freely, they were hitting all the shots. I take full responsibility because I failed to prepare the players enough for a situation like that," added Reyes.
"The disappointing part was, our defense was non-existent in the last game and that was all what we talked about yesterday in practice. So we wanted to make sure that we go back to who we are, the way we play defense.
"I think it was very important for us to take the lesson from that game into today's ballgame."
The loss was Phoenix's fourth straight as it officially bowed out of the conference with a 3-9 slate.
It was the Fuel Masters' worst loss of the season and largely brought about by their season-worst output caused by a total 28-of-74 field shooting and 23 turnovers against the Tropa's defense.
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TNT also outscored Phoenix, 54-29, in the two middle quarters to turn a 24-21 lead into a 78-50 cushion going to the final frame.
Making the victory more impressive is the fact that none among the Tropa reached the 20-point mark with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's 15 points and 10 rebounds in just three quarters enough to lead them.
Tyler Tio's 14 points were enough to pace Phoenix as Donovan Smith tallied 11 points on a 5-of-15 shooting from the field. The import did have 15 rebounds but committed six of the Fuel Masters' miscues. (NC)
The Scores :
TNT 106 - Hollis-Jefferson 15, Pogoy 12, Oftana 11, Aurin 11, Nambatac 8, Williams 8, Galinato 8, Castro 6, heruela 6, Razon 6, Ebona 4, Khobuntin 4, Exciminiano 3, Payawal 2, Erram 2, Varilla 0.
PHOENIX 70 - Tio 14, Smith 11, Ballungay 11, Manganti 7, Tuffin 6, Jazul 5, Perkins 5, Muyang 2, Garcia 2, Alejandro 1, Rivero 0, Salado 0, Verano 0, Daves 0, Camacho 0.
QUARTERS : 24-21, 49-35, 78-50, 106-70
