TNT remains sturdy at the top after defeating ROS

Terrence Jones finished of with a double-double to lead TNT KaTropa to their 8th win in 9 games. PBA Images

By Xy-Zha Cabanlong

MANILA - The TNT KaTropa affirmed their place at the top of the PBA Commissioner's Cup standings at the expense of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 102-81, Wednesday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Terrence Jones sizzled with 33 points, 21 rebounds and 13 assists to lead the KaTropa to their 8th win.

It was the KaTropa that set the pace of the game early in the first period, leading as much as 5 points in the early minutes.

JV Mocon, out of the blue, sizzled to give the Elasto Painters the lead.

Rain or Shine led as much as much as six points only to be chased by the KaTropa, and the lead was down to one at the end the quarter, 25-24.

The second quarter saw a surging KaTropa, and the Elasto Painters to trail as much as 14 points.

TNT outscored Rain or Shine in the second, making 32 points against 17 to tally in a halftime lead of 56-42.

The KaTropa, with the combined efforts of Jones, Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario, extended the lead by as much as 25 points in the third period but the Elasto Painters' import Denzel Bowles did not back down in leading his team to cut the TNT lead, basket after basket.

The third period ended with the Elasto Painters outscoring the KaTropa, 24-17, but TNT is still at the driver's seat with a 7-point advantage, 73-66.

Rain or Shine's fourth quarter started on the wrong footing as Beau Belga was called for a flagrant foul penalty 1, earning TNT a trip to the free throw line through Jones and the ball possession.

Belga's fouldturned out to be a huge blow for the Elasto Painters as they were not able to recover from then on.

RR Pogoy's outside shooting had been a dagger for the Elasto Painters as it paved the way for the KaTropa to extend their lead further.

As if Pogoy's hot hands in outside shooting is not enough for the Elasto Painters to handle, Castro and Don Trollano even added fuel to the fire, sealing off the deal for the KaTropa.

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