RR Pogoy sizzled for 34 points as TNT made its way to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals after eliminating Alaska, 104-83, in their quarterfinal match Saturday at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
More than a month after scoring 45 points on 10 triples, Pogoy torched the Aces anew by making 16 points spiked by four three-pointers in the third quarter that opened the door for the Tropang Giga to a tight first half into a blowout.
TNT sustained the lead till the end, joining Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the last four of the season being held inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble.
The Tropang Giga, who finished third in the elims, will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the second seed Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters and the No. 7 Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok.
Phoenix holds a twice-to-beat advantage over Magnolia when the two teams squared off Saturday evening.
TNT won by quickly erasing a 51-40 deficit in the second quarter with 11 straight points to go into halftime tied at 51-all. The Tropang Giga then came out of the dugout with a 14-2 run with Pogoy accounting for eight.
Pogoy would hit eight more in the third, including one that brought TNT ahead 84-64 near the end of the period.
“Buti nakahabol kami sa kanila and then we started focusing on defense. We made stops and we had that run (in the second quarter),” said TNT coach Bong Ravena. “Momentum-wise, nag-iba yung tema so meron kaming cushion para masustain namin yung lead.”
Pogoy also had eight rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead a strong contribution from TNT’s main weapons.
Ray Parks Jr. finished with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, Troy Rosario scored 10, Poy Erram produced 11 points and nine rebounds while Jayson Castro was still contributing despite playing 18 minutes with eight points and five assists.
Jeron Teng scored 13 points, Vic Manuel and Maverick Ahanmisi tallied 12 points each and Robbie Herndon added 11 but Alaska’s stint inside the bubble came to an end after losing control of the match in the second half.
The game was testy at times but it took a scary turn with 9:47 left in the fourth when Alaska’s Abel Galliguez suffered a cut on his left eyebrow after landing face first onto the floor when he fouled Parks who was going for a basket.
Galliguez was first taken out of the court on a stretcher before being sent to the hospital on a wheelchair.
The scores:
TNT 104 — Pogoy 34, Parks 20, Rosario 10, Erram 9, Castro 8, Enciso 6, Semerad 4, Washington 4, Alejandro 3, Reyes 2, Montalbo 2, Carey 2, Vosotros 0, Flores 0.
ALASKA 83 — Teng 13, Manuel 12, Ahanmisi 12, Herndon 11, Brondial 9, Ayaay 8, Tratter 6, Ebona 4, DiGregorio 4, Casio 2, Marcelino 2, Galliguez 0, Publico 0, Andrada 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 51-51, 84-66, 104-83.