Jayson Castro came through with big plays down the stretch as TNT outlasted Alaska, 81-77, Friday, Dec. 17 and bounced back from dropping its opening assignment in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro knocked down a pair of clutch shots that gave the Tropang Giga some breathing room before the Aces’ Robbie Herndon missed a game-tying three in the final seconds to seal a hard-fought win.
The veteran guard finished with 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals as TNT recovered from a 102-100 defeat to NLEX last Wednesday, its first match since winning the Philippine Cup in Bacolor, Pampanga in late-October.
“We really expect to struggle in our first game, and today it was the same thing,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “We had to be very patient because we expected that kind of struggle so tsinyaga-tiyaga namin and we found ways.”
TNT had to overcome a tough stand by Alaska, which led by a high of 11 points in the third and was in front for much of the second half.
The Tropang Giga elected to go with an all-Filipino lineup, putting struggling import McKenzie Moore on the bench as well as Philippine Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Mikey Williams.
Castro, who spent most of last conference in a limited role, went back to his old ways and stepped up when the situation needed it most.
His three-pointer with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter made it 78-73 lead, sending a small group of TNT supporters and team owner Manny V. Pangilinan who were on hand to celebrate the shot.
The national team veteran came through again with a tough turnaround shot over Maverick Ahanmisi, 1:45 remaining on the game clock, for an 80-75 lead for the Tropang Giga.
A basket by Alaska import Olu Ashaolu cut the margin to three, 80-77, and the Aces got a chance to tie it after a stop on the other hand. But Herndon’s attempt to tie the game appeared to have been deflected and Castro would later be fouled and split two charities to seal the final count.
Ashaolu’s 29 points and 18 rebounds were not enough as another struggle in the fourth quarter led to a second straight setback and a 2-2 slate for Alaska.
The scores:
TNT 81 — Castro 20, Khobuntin 16, Moore 13, M.Williams 12, K.Williams 6, Erram 6, Banal 5, Marcelo 2, Pogoy 1, Heruela 0, Reyes 0, Alejandro 0.
ALASKA 77 — Ashaolu 29, Teng 13, Brondial 9, Herndon 7, DiGregorio 7, Tratter 6, Ahanmisi 5, Tolomia 1, Taha 0, Racal 0.
Quarters: 9-15, 30-35, 62-62, 81-77.