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| PBA |
By Patrick Sutare
QUEZON CITY--The TNT KaTropa leaned on Jayson Castro heroics yet again to complete a comeback win against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 101-98, and register their first win in the PBA Governors Cup, Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro sank a go-ahead 3-point shot with less than a minute left in the game to give the lead back to TNT, 101-98, and blocked a possible counter from Paul Lee to situate the pressure on Rain or Shine, which led by as much as 14 before going to a scoring drought in the final half of the deciding quarter.
The Elasto Painters had the chance to nab the game away from the Tropa with barely three seconds left after a controversial deliberate foul on Castro, but Gabe Norwood muffed both pressure-packed bonuses.
TNT stacked up their defense in the last play by shutting any passage of daylight for ROS, sealing the deal for their first victory of the tourney.
Castro finished with a double-double of 19 points and ten assists, boosted by 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Imports Mario Little and Michael Madanly aided TNT with 18 and 17, respectively.
Dior Lowhorn, who was strangely left watching from the bench in the last stretches of the game, finished a 20-10 stat line in a losing effort for Rain or Shine. JR Quinahan had 16 points.
Box Scores:
TNT 101–Castro 19, Little 18, Madanly 17, Tautuaa 14, De Ocampo 11, Seigle 9, Reyes R. 7, Carey 3, Rosales 3, Ababou 0, Fonacier 0
Rain Or Shine 98–Lowhorn 20, Quinahan 16, Lee 13, Cruz 12, Almazan 11, Ahanmisi 9, Trollano 9, Belga 4, Chan 2, Norwood 2, Ponferada 0
Quarterscores: 31-21, 59-56, 74-85, 101-98
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