Castro wills TNT past Rain or Shine
Tropang TNT squandered a 15-point bulge then came charging back from a 14-point deficit to pull off a 101-98 win over Commissioner’s Cup titlist Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
The Texters were still in a precarious situation at 90-98 with 6:16 to go when they made their own fight back, salvaging the game on an 11-0 closing run.
“It’s a tough game and we’re lucky to survive. We won and we’re now hoping for a good start in the conference,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.
The Texters surged ahead to stay at 101-98 on a three-point shot by Jayson Castro from a perfectly set pick by Moala Tautuaa with 52.9 ticks left.
The E-Painters had a chance to salvage or even win the game when Gabe Norwood drew a deliberate foul from
Castro with 2.5 seconds to go.
But Norwood muffed his two free throws then the E-Painters fumbled their last possession allowing the Texters to come through with a triumphant start in the season-ending tourney.
TNT import Mario Little got away with solid numbers on his PBA debut with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Castro top scored with 19 markers while Syrian import Michael Madanly contributed 17 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
It was a sorry loss for the Rain or Shine which made a 29-point turnaround from a 15-point deficit only to sag and collapse at the finish
Jericho Cruz scored on a layup off Madanly on a long perfect pitch by Jewel Ponferada to start a three-point play cutting TNT’s lead to three, 59-56, in the closing seconds of the opening half.
After trailing by as many as 15 at 16-31, the E-Painters seized the lead at 64-63 on an 8-4 opening binge by Jeff Chan, Paul Lee and JR Quinahan in the second half.
The E-Painters went roaring all through the third quarter, seizing control at 85-74 on a 29-15 exchange capped by a buzzer-beating running three-pointer by Cruz.
From 72-all, Rain or Shine worked on an 18-4 attack to lead by 14, 90-76, at the start of the fourth.
The Texters set the pace in the early goings on a strong start anchored by Little who came through with 16 points on 6-of-9 field shooting in the first 24 minutes of play.
Quinahan and Dior Lowhorn had 23 points together for the E-Painters in the first two quarters.
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