MANILA--Michael Craig impressed in his debut as TNT opened its PBA Governors' Cup campaign against Kia with a 106-96 win at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Friday night.
Craig tallied a triple-double for the KaTropa, but they still needed to withstand the Picanto's late push to hold on to the win.
TNT was up, 72-55, in the third quarter, but Kia recovered and eventually came to within five, 91-96, with less than four minutes left in the fourth.
The KaTropa closed out the match with a 9-3 run that stretched their lead back to 11 with less than a minute to go.
Craig finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, three blocks, and one steal, while Troy Rosario had his own double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds with two assists for TNT, which looks to bounce back from its stinging loss in the Commissioner's Cup Finals.
Markeith Cummings led Kia with 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but he committed 10 of the team's 23 turnovers as the club fell to 0-3.
Box Scores:
TNT 106-Craig 21, Rosario 18, Castro 16, Williams 11, Hernandez 8, Pogoy 8, Semerad 7, Tautuaa 7, De Ocampo 6, Carey 4, Garcia 0, Seigle 0, Tamsi 0
Kia 96-Cummings 27, Celda 14, Revilla 8, Salva 8, Paniamogan 8, Corpuz 5, Elorde 5, Khobuntin 4, Galanza 4, Camson 4, Jaime 3, Nimes 3, Deutchman 3, Yee 0
Quarterscores: 25-21, 53-44, 79-71, 106-96
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
TNT 106-Craig 21, Rosario 18, Castro 16, Williams 11, Hernandez 8, Pogoy 8, Semerad 7, Tautuaa 7, De Ocampo 6, Carey 4, Garcia 0, Seigle 0, Tamsi 0
Kia 96-Cummings 27, Celda 14, Revilla 8, Salva 8, Paniamogan 8, Corpuz 5, Elorde 5, Khobuntin 4, Galanza 4, Camson 4, Jaime 3, Nimes 3, Deutchman 3, Yee 0
Quarterscores: 25-21, 53-44, 79-71, 106-96
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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