TNT KaTropa booked the first twice-to-beat ticket in the quarterfinals after steamrolling Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 121-92, in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Glen Rice Jr. erupted for 36 points on six-for-13 three-point shooting. He also had nine rebounds and four assists to lead KaTropa (8-3) who are now assured of a top-four finish.
He fired 18 of his total output in the third frame where TNT pulled away.
Jayson Castro added 28 points, four rebounds and seven assists while also going six-for-seven from downtown as TNT simply torched Ginebra (8-3) whose chances of clinching a twice-to-beat were derailed by the loss.
Six teams are battling for the remaining three twice-to-beat tickets. Four of them–Star versus NLEX, San Miguel versus Meralco–will play on Sunday in very crucial games that will determine the final matchups in the quarterfinals.
TNT was just up by eight, 57-49, heading into the third frame. But thanks to Rice’s explosion, KaTropa grabbed a comfortable 88-66 lead.
TNT then started the fourth frame with three straight triples–two of which came from Castro–and led by as many as 32 points to keep Ginebra at bay.
Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 28 points and 14 rebounds.
In the first game, Rain or Shine kept its twice-to-beat hopes alive after a 122-98 rout of the Blackwater Elite.
J’Nathan Bullock tallied 30 points and eight rebounds to pace the Elasto Painters who improved to 7-4. But for them to make it to the top four, they have to rely on the results of the final elimination rounds games on Sunday.
Allein Maliksi made 29 points for the Elite who are locked up at the No.8 spot.
The scores:
First game
RAIN OR SHINE 122 – Bullock 30, Almazan 20, Norwood 15, Ahanmisi 12, Trollano 11, Daquioag 11, Belga 5, King 5, Matias 4, Ponferada 3, Maiquez 2, Robles 2, Borboran 2.
BLACKWATER 98 – Maliksi 29, Walker 21, Canaleta 15, Erram 14, Digregorio 9, Sumang 6, Belo 2, Sena 2, Miranda 0, Pinto 0, Cruz 0, Marcelo.
Quarters: 30-21, 57-56, 89-77, 122-98.
Second game
TNT 121 – Rice Jr. 36, Castro 28, Rosario 15, Pogoy 15, Williams 10, Semerad 4, Chua 4, Golla 3, Carey 2, Tautuaa 2, Seigle 2, Nuyles 0, Hernandez 0, Reyes 0, Lingganay 0.
GINEBRA 92 – Bronwlee 28, Aguilar J. 19, Thompson 9, Devance 7, Tenorio 6, Mercado 6, Slaughter 4, Caguioa 4, Aguilar R. 4, Ferrer 3, Cruz 2, Mariano 0, Taha 0.
Quarters: 30-31, 57-49, 88-71, 121-92.
