TNT takes 2-1 lead after Meralco blows Game 3 away

One more win for TNT to make another Finals this season.

The KaTropa survived Meralco Thursday at the Big Dome, pulling off a tough 101-97 victory in Game 3 of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.

In easily the best game of these semis, TNT got some clutch hits from Jayson Castro and KJ McDaniels to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5.

Down one, Castro hit a jumper to put the KaTropa up, 98-97, with 1:35 to go. McDaniels then followed that up with a putback under heavy duress for a three-point lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Meralco had several chances to tie but Allein Maliksi missed a wide open look from the top of the key in the final 25 seconds. The Bolts were bailed out after two missed TNT free throws but a head-scratching play doomed their chances.

Still down three and no timeouts left, the Bolts were trying to run a play but Allen Durham got a turnover after passing to Cliff Hodge on the Meralco bench.

Hodge was not even active but he was standing too close to the court with his hands up. Durham passed thinking he was an open man.

All five starters scored in double figures for TNT led by 25 from Troy Rosario. Jayson Castro had 17 points, 10 assists, and four steals in the win.

Despite a rough shooting night that saw him only score two points at the break, KJ McDaniels still managed 18 points and 14 rebounds. He scored 10 in the fourth.

Allen Durham had 32 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists but it wasn’t enough to carry the Bolts to back-to-back victories. Chris Newsome was Meralco’s top local with 20 points.

Game 4 will be today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo with the KaTropa going for the kill.

The Scores:

TNT 101 – Rosario 25, McDaniels 18, Castro 17, Pogoy 15, Parks 12, Reyes 9, De Leon 5, Digregorio 0, Williams 0, Vosotros 0.

Meralco 97 – Durham 32, Newsome 20, Amer 19, Quinto 8, Pinto 5, Caram 4, Almazan 4, Hodge 3, Maliksi 2, Faundo 0. (sports.abs-cbn.com)