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Teng's 28-point blast falls short as Alaska's whirlwind year ends with loss to TNT

Mo Tautuaa had an impressive game for TNT. PBA Media Bureau
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--In what has been a topsy-turvy year for Alaska, the team wanted a win on Friday night to end 2017 right.

The Aces thought they were on their way to doing so as rookie Jeron Teng scorched hot.

But the TNT KaTropa still shut them down.

TNT leaned on a second quarter defensive stand to down Alaska, 106-98, in the final PBA game for calendar year 2017 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

The Aces got off to a good start just like its 2018 Philippine Cup debut versus Magnolia as Teng and Calvin Abueva led them to a 30-29 lead.

But the KaTropa limited them to only 19 points in the second quarter as they entered halftime leading, 58-49. The KaTropa never looked back from thereon.

Troy Rosario led TNT, which bounced back from its loss to Rain Or Shine, which then lost to Blackwater earlier Friday, with 21 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.

Jayson Castro and Mo Tautuaa each tallied 18 markers.

Teng finished with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds with five assists, four steals, and one block for Alaska, which fell to 0-2 in the season-opening conference.

Abueva came close to his own double-double with 16 markers and nine boards with three assists, one steal, and two blocks, but he committed six turnovers that helped spell doom for the Aces, who ended the year on a four-game losing streak dating back to last season's Governors' Cup. They actually finished 2017 losing 18 of their last 21 games including the franchise-worst 14-game skid starting from the Commissioner's Cup last season.

Box Scores:

TNT 106-Rosario 21, Castro 18, Tautuaa 18, Garcia 11, Williams 9, Pogoy 7, Onwubere 6, Reyes 6, Torres 6, Tallo 2, Arong 2, Carey 0

Alaska 98-Teng 28, Casio 17, Abueva 16, Magat 9, Thoss 6, Pascual 5, Galliguez 5, Banchero 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 2, Racal 2, Exciminiano 0

Quarterscores: 29-30, 58-49, 81-72, 106-98

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno