By Ivan Saldajeno
PASAY—TNT formalized its entry to the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals with a tight 102-98 win over GlobalPort at the Cuneta Astrodome on Wednesday night.
The KaTropa almost blew a 21-point lead but put up one huge stop in the end to join the Phoenix Fuel Masters in second spot with a 6-4 record.
TNT started the fourth quarter on a 17-0 run to open a 94-73 lead with less than seven minutes left in the game.
However, a 22-3 blast by GlobalPort capped by 11 unanswered points drew the team to within two, 98-100, with 35.9 seconds left.
The team then got a chance to tie the game when KG Canaleta forced Troy Rosario to an offensive foul with 24.1 seconds remaining.
Rosario, however, bounced back by helping in the defense on Stanley Pringle's drive to the cup that forced the latter to kick the ball off to KG Canaleta, which was picked by RR Pogoy.
Rosario finally sealed the win for the KaTropa with two free throws.
Pogoy finished with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting with four rebounds, one steal, and one block, while Mo Tautuaa added 18 points, eight rebounds, and two steals for TNT, which will end its elimination campaign on Saturday night against San Miguel.
Terrence Romeo's 35-point barrage went for naught as GlobalPort fell to a tie for seventh place with Ginebra at 5-5.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
TNT started the fourth quarter on a 17-0 run to open a 94-73 lead with less than seven minutes left in the game.
However, a 22-3 blast by GlobalPort capped by 11 unanswered points drew the team to within two, 98-100, with 35.9 seconds left.
The team then got a chance to tie the game when KG Canaleta forced Troy Rosario to an offensive foul with 24.1 seconds remaining.
Rosario, however, bounced back by helping in the defense on Stanley Pringle's drive to the cup that forced the latter to kick the ball off to KG Canaleta, which was picked by RR Pogoy.
Rosario finally sealed the win for the KaTropa with two free throws.
Pogoy finished with 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting with four rebounds, one steal, and one block, while Mo Tautuaa added 18 points, eight rebounds, and two steals for TNT, which will end its elimination campaign on Saturday night against San Miguel.
Terrence Romeo's 35-point barrage went for naught as GlobalPort fell to a tie for seventh place with Ginebra at 5-5.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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