By Diego de la Paz
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – TNT KaTropa survived a second half surge from Rain or Shine to pull out a 101-98 win out of the fire in their debut game in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In a cruel twist for the reigning PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion, TNT KaTropa managed to keep Rain or Shine scoreless in the last 6:18 of the match and went on a 11-point tear to take the lead with 52.9 left on the game clock on Jayson Castro’s three-pointer with time expiring on the shot clock.
Rain or Shine still had a chance to pull out the win, but Gabe Norwood failed to hit both free throws following a Castro deliberate foul and Jericho Cruz turned the ball over at the baseline in the ensuing play, giving TNT KaTropa the win.
Castro topped all TNT KaTropa scorers with 19 points and 10 assists. Mario Little added 18 points and 11 rebounds in his PBA debut, while returning import Michael Madanly added 17.
A visibly exhausted TNT Head Coach Jong Uichico addressed the media, saying that the team barely survived its first acid test of the season.
“Mabuti we won so we can have a good start to the conference,” said Uichico. “When you’re playing Rain or Shine, we like to defend decently, pero kailangan maka-shoot kami.”
Uichico also bared that the team has been walking wounded, with Larry Fonacier coming off an injury, with Gilas forward Troy Rosario nursing a sprained foot, and both Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Kelly Williams sidelined for two more weeks.
Dior Lowhorn, making his first PBA appearance since 2014, put up 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Elasto Painters. Paul Lee added 13 points, while Jericho Cruz had 12 to his name.
