TNT bucked the absence of Rookie of the Year Mikey Williams to defeat Magnolia Chicken Timplados, 78-72, to begin its title defense on a bright note Sunday, June 5 in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga leaned on Troy Rosario and Jayson Castro in the fourth quarter of the contest marred by cold shooting from both sides and claim victory to begin the 47th season.
With Williams out due to ongoing negotiations between him and TNT management, coach Chot Reyes said his team had to rely on defense in order to win over the team it faced in last year’s All-Filipino Finals in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Also out was the injured Kelly Williams, who was earlier named to the All-Defensive Team, forcing the Tropang Giga to scrap their way against the Hotshots.
“It was a matter of grinding it out, hankering down on defense and it’s a matter of grit, make stop after stop and, thankfully in the crucial moments, we were able to pull it out,” said Reyes.
Rosario, who revealed testing positive for Covid-19 after the campaign in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, topscored with 22 points while grabbing 10 rebounds for TNT.
Castro made 13 of his 16 in the fourth, including some crucial baskets that enabled TNT to see off Magnolia.
His three-pointer with four minutes left gave TNT a 68-66 lead after spending most of the second half within striking distance of Magnolia.
He also scored a three-point play off Mark Barroca foul, 1:40 to go, which put the Tropang Giga ahead 73-69.
Ian Sangalang, finishing with 18 points, kept Magnolia alive with a basket to trim TNT’s lead to 73-71, but it became a free throw shooting contest the rest of the way.
Castro made two foul shots, Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva split a pair while TNT’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser also hit one of two for 76-72.
Ganuelas-Rosser sealed the final tally with a breakaway dunk to secure the win.
The scores:
TNT 78 — Rosario 22, Castro 16, Khobuntin 9, Pogoy 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Erram 5, Montalbo 3, Cruz 2, Reyes 2, Marcelo 2, Banal 0, Tungcab 0.
MAGNOLIA 72 — Sangalang 18, Barroca 14, Jalalon 12, Abueva 12, Reavis 5, Lee 4, Wong 4, Dionisio 3, Corpuz 0, Laput 0, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 42-42, 53-55, 78-72.