DEFENSIVE-minded TNT forced Blackwater to a season-high 31 turnovers to clear the way to a bounceback 108-98 victory Saturday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
The Tropang Giga caused havoc on the Bossing's offensive patterns, resulting in 34 easy points that helped TNT a great deal in rebounding from its 101-110 loss to NLEX two nights ago and moving up to joint third at 3-2 overall.
Blackwater's errors were the most since the 2018 Commissioner's Cup when the franchise had 33 in a 98-126 blowout loss to Columbian Dyip.
Import Cam Oliver fired 38 points to go with 10 rebounds while Mikey Williams erupted for 28 spiked by six triples for TNT. The duo combined for 33 in the second half to spark the Tropang Giga's breakaway to big leads that reached as high as 15 at 104-89.
"After our last game (loss to NLEX), all we really talked about was our defense. We scored 101 points against NLEX but had we been able to keep them to this number - 98 - we would have had a chance to win that game as well," said Reyes.
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"So we really intentionally put a lot of emphasis on defense and our ability to come out and pressure," he added.
RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana chipped in 11 apiece as TNT drew level with NLEX and Converge at No. 3 behind Magnolia's leading 5-0 and Bay Area's second-best 6-1.
Cameron Krutwig dished out 25 while Baser Amer and Rey Suerte shot 16 and 15, respectively, to pace Blackwater, which fell to 3-4.
The supposed first game of Blackwater's Troy Rosario against his former squad didn't happen as the Bossing's mid-season trade acquisition sat out due to a foot injury.
Reyes said playing against a Rosario-less Bossing worried him a little, considering TNT's track record.
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"If you take a look at our history, ang banban namin kapag kulang ang kalaban, eh. Magnolia played without Ian Sangalang and we lost. NLEX played without Brandon Rosser and we lost. Fortunately, we were able to pull it off against Balckwater without Troy," he said.
The Bossing actually held an early 25-16 upperhand before the Tropang Giga wrested control and eventually pulled away with a 30-21 salvo in the third period. (OL)
