TNT staved off a furious rally from Paul Lee and frustrated Magnolia, 93-85, to get back on the winning track in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday, Feb. 3.
It seemed like the Tropang Giga had learned their lessons from previous loss with RR Pogoy making sure there will be no sudden collapse this time around, staving off a huge fourth quarter rally from the Hotshots to pick up their third game in four outings.
Pogoy finished with 20 points – none bigger than his last four points from two free throws and jump shot during an 8-0 spurt that gave TNT some breathing room after Magnolia threatened and cut the lead down to just two, 85-83, with four minutes left.
The Tropang Giga were actually comfortably ahead by 16, 88-62, early in the final frame before Lee drilled booming triples to spark a massive 15-1 run that towed them back within striking distance.
That was when Pogoy along with import Jalen Hudson saved the day and spared TNT some blushes to score the huge bounce back win.
Pogoy added five rebounds and three assists while Hudson struggled with just 14 points. Mikey Williams, meanwhile, redeemed himself from a dismal two-point performance in the loss to NLEX with 14 points while Calvin Oftana also put up the same output in his first game back from injury.
Lee paced Magnolia with 24 points built on six triples while import Eric McCree, after exploding against Converge in a rousing 38-point debut, finished with just 12 points and 16 rebounds.