By Adrian Stewart Co
TNT Tropang Giga squandered a double-digit edge before pulling off a 95-92 victory over Rain or Shine (ROS) Elasto Painters in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga were on top 93-81 following a free throw by Mikey Williams, but the Painters mounted a huge fight back behind Henry Walker and Rey Nambatac to trim the deficit to 92-93.
The Painters even had a chance to snatch the lead but Walker misfired his top of the key three-pointer. John Paul Erram then secured the win for the Tropang Giga with two free throws.
Williams top-scored with 25 points, including four three-point conversions, while Roger Pogoy and Erram chipped in 18 and 15 markers, respectively, as the Tropang Giga improved to 2-2 slate.
Aaron Fuller, who replaced McKenzie Moore as TNT’s reinforcement, had double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes ended up with 11 points each.
Walker ended up with 32 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Jayvee Mocon, Jewel Ponferrada and Beau Belga added 13, 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the Painters dropped to 2-3.
In the first game, San Miguel Beermen survived a fourth quarter uprising by the Terrafirma Dyip to score a 100-88 victory. The Beermen now has 3-2 win-loss slate, while the Dyip dropped to 1-4.
Comfortably ahead at 85-62 with over eight minutes in the game, the Beermen was stunned a huge uprising by the Dyip as the lead was trimmed down to 88-94 after a triple by Juan Miguel Tiongson.
Terrence Romeo steadied the ship for the Beermen as he converted a step back jumper to make it 96-88 followed by a layup by Jaymar Perez as the lead was extended to 100-88 with under a minute left.
Romeo finished the game with 23 points, including four outside hits, while reinforcement Brandon Brown added 23 markers, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals for the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
TNT 95 – M. Williams 25, Pogoy 18, Erram 15, Fuller 13, Reyes 11, Castro 11, K. Williams 2, Heruela 0, Khobuntin 0, Alejandro 0, Banal 0, Exciminiano 0, Marcelo 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Walker 32, Mocon 13, Ponferrada 12, Belga 11, Nambatac 9, Norwood 6, Asistio 5, Santillan 3, Caracut 1, Jackson 0, Wong 0, Borboran 0, Torres 0.
Quarterscores: 21-27, 44-47, 77-65, 95-92./ASC, WDJ