EVEN a scoring machine like Mikey Williams had to take the backseat in this one.
Roger Pogoy caught fire from the second quarter on while Jayson Castro laced his fourth quarter heroics with a clutch triple in boosting TNT over NorthPort, 117-112, Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Williams still led the Tropang Giga with a game-high 27 points, but Pogoy's 22 points and Castro scattering eight of his 17 in the fourth period proved invaluable in avoiding the axe-wielding Batang Pier and notch a fourth straight win that jacked their record to 6-2 and into a virtual quarterfinals slot.
Castro also made the eve of his 36th birthday even more memorable with his triple that stopped cold NorthPort's charge from the depths of a 13-point deficit and brought it within 110-111.
Following a hoary missed drive by Batang Pier Jamie Malonzo, Castro came up with a charity split that made it a two-possession game with only 28 ticks left and capped his all-around performance that also featured six rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
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Poy Erram also chipped in 17 points on top of 14 rebounds and two blocked shots, but TNT coach Chot Reyes gave special citation to his other players who continued to hold the fort despite the absence of Troy Rosario, Ryan Reyes, JD Tungcab and Kib Montalbo.
"The way this team was constructed was precisely for situations like this," said Reyes after the win that was fashioned after the likes of Jayjay Alejandro and Glenn Khobuntin helped in their own way of boosting the team back from a 34-44 second quarter deficit and into as much as a 97-84 spread.
"We knew we'd be dealing with injuries and then looking at the schedule we have to finish our elimination round by July 10," Added Reyes. "We knew we'd have a lot of aches and pains and from the start our Currimao boys come in earlier talaga while having our veterans, our mainstays are getting extended rest."
It was the fourth straight loss by NorthPort following a 2-0 start and a big factor was star guard Robert Bolick tweaking his right ankle off a drive right in the opening period. He returned later in the game but saw just over two minutes of action before being benched for good.
For naught went the efforts of Jamie Malonzo, who also had 27 points and eight rebounds, as well as the 24-point, 10-assist showing of Roi Sumang and the combined 30 points and 13 boards of JM Calma and Kevin Ferrer.
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NorthPort's last gasp came when Sumang boomed in his fifth triple of the game to cap a 7-0 surge and push the Batang Pier within 110-111, but Castro's own trey and Malonzo seemingly losing the ball while going for a drive fully quashed their hopes going to the last 30 seconds. (NC)
The Scores:
TNT 117 - M.Williams 27, Pogoy 22, Castro 17, Erram 17, Alejandro 12, Khobuntin 9, Heruela 7, K.Williams 2, Marcelo 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Banal 0, Cruz 0.
NorthPort 112 - Malonzo 27, Sumang 24, Calma 16, Ferrer 14, Balanza 10, Ayaay 7, Santos 6, Bolick 5, Dela Cruz 1, Taha 0.
Quarters: 26-30, 55-55, 85-78, 117-112
